1956 Trinidad and Tobago general election

General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 24 September 1956.[1] 129 candidates from nine political parties contested for 24 seats in the legislative council.[2] The result was a victory for the People's National Movement, which won 13 of the 24 seats. Voter turnout was 80.1%.[3]

1956 Trinidad and Tobago general election

24 September 1956
All 24 seats in the Legislative Council
Turnout	80.1% ( 10.1 pp)
Party Leader % Seats ± PNM Eric Williams 39.7% 13 New PDP Bhadase Maraj 20.8% 5 New Butler Party Tubal Uriah Butler 11.7% 2 -4 TLP–NDP A. P. T. James 5.2% 2 0 Independents – 15.3% 2 -4 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Chief Minister before Subsequent Chief Minister Albert Gomes (Party of Political Progress Groups) Eric Williams (People's National Movement)

A notable contest was the Tunapuna seat, where former West Indies cricketer Learie Constantine representing the PNM fought Radio Trinidad announcer Surujpat Mathura in the seat of Tunapuna; Constantine won.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	People's National Movement	105,153	39.75	13	New
	People's Democratic Party	55,148	20.85	5	New
	Butler Party	31,071	11.75	2	–4
	Party of Political Progress Groups	14,019	5.30	0	–2
	Trinidad Labour Party–National Development Party	13,692	5.18	2	0
	Caribbean National Labour Party	3,864	1.46	0	New
	Caribbean People's Democratic Party	627	0.24	0	New
	West Indian Independence Party	446	0.17	0	New
	Independents	40,523	15.32	2	–4
Total		264,543	100.00	24	+6
Valid votes		264,543	97.43
Invalid/blank votes		6,991	2.57
Total votes		271,534	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		339,028	80.09
Source: Elections and Boundaries Commission

References

1. Dieter Nohlen (2005). Elections in the Americas: A Data Handbook, Vol. I. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 635. ISBN 0-19-928357-5.
2. "Trinidad and Tobago General Election Results 1956". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
3. Nohlen, p639