1912 Japanese general election

1912 Japanese general election

15 May 1912
All 381 seats in the House of Representatives 191 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Saionji Kinmochi Inukai Tsuyoshi Party Rikken Seiyūkai Rikken Kokumintō Chūō Club Last election 48.40%, 187 seats Did not exist Did not exist Seats won 209 95 31 Seat change 22 New New Popular vote 689,613 381,465 113,834 Percentage 51.52% 28.50% 8.50% Swing 3.12pp New New
Prime Minister before election Saionji Kinmochi Rikken Seiyūkai Elected Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi Rikken Seiyūkai

General elections were held in Japan on 15 May 1912. The result was a victory for the Rikken Seiyūkai party, which won 209 of the 381 seats.

Electoral system

The 381 members of the House of Representatives were elected in 51 multi-member constituencies based on prefectures and cities. Voting was restricted to men aged over 25 who paid at least 10 yen a year in direct taxation. 1912 was also the first year citizens in Okinawa could vote.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Rikken Seiyūkai	689,613	51.52	209	+22
	Rikken Kokumintō	381,465	28.50	95	New
	Chūō Club	113,834	8.50	31	New
	Others	153,593	11.47	46	–18
Total		1,338,505	100.00	381	+2
Valid votes		1,338,505	99.21
Invalid/blank votes		10,672	0.79
Total votes		1,349,177	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		1,506,143	89.58
Source: Mackie & Rose, Voice Japan