1948 Cuban general election

General elections were held in Cuba on 1 June 1948.[1] Carlos Prío Socarrás won the presidential election running under the Auténtico-Republican Alliance banner, whilst the Partido Auténtico emerged as the largest party in the House of Representatives, winning 29 of the 70 seats. Voter turnout was 78.7%.[2]

1948 Cuban general election

1 June 1948

Nominee Carlos Prío Socarrás Ricardo Núñez Portuondo Party Auténtico Liberal Popular vote 905,198 599,364 Percentage 45.89% 30.38%   Nominee Eduardo Chibás Juan Marinello Party Orthodox PSP Popular vote 324,364 142,972 Percentage 16.46% 7.25%

President before election Ramón Grau Authentic Party Elected President Carlos Prío Socarrás Authentic Party

As of 2021, this is the last free election held in Cuba: elections were scheduled for 1952, but former president Fulgencio Batista seized power in a military coup three months before the elections.

Opinion polls

Survey	Date	Prío	Núñez	Chibás	Marinello	No answer
University of Havana[3]	May 1948	38.45	28.19	15.65	6.20	11.51

Results

President

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Carlos Prío Socarrás	Auténtico-Republican Alliance	905,198	45.89
Ricardo Núñez Portuondo	Liberal-Democratic Coalition	599,364	30.38
Eduardo Chibás	Partido Ortodoxo	324,634	16.46
Juan Marinello	Popular Socialist Party	142,972	7.25
Invalid/blank votes		537	0.02
Total		1,972,705	100
Registered voter/turnout		2,506,734	78.7
Source: Nohlen

Senate

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Auténtico–Republican Alliance			36	+12
Liberal–Democratic Coalition			18	–
Invalid/blank votes		–	–	–
Total			54	0
Source: Nohlen

House of Representatives

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Partido Auténtico			29	–1
Liberal Party			15	+4
Republican Party			11	+4
Democratic Party			6	–4
Popular Socialist Party			5	0
Partido Ortodoxo			4	New
Invalid/blank votes		–	–	–
Total			70	+4
Source: Nohlen

References

1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p203 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
2. Nohlen, p204
3. University of Havana survey