1874 Canadian Federal Election

January 22, 1874 · Macdonald's Canada · 206 seats, 104 for a majority

Alexander Mackenzie's Liberals, in office three months after the Pacific Scandal toppled Macdonald, won a decisive mandate in the first election held on a single day with secret ballots.

Prime Minister before

Alexander Mackenzie

Liberal

Prime Minister (continued)

Alexander Mackenzie

Liberal

Government formed

Liberal

majority government

Turnout

69.6%

The result

Share of House
LiberalAlexander Mackenzie129+35
128,45539.5%+4.8
ConservativeJohn A. Macdonald65-35
97,92530.1%-8.6

12 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.

Elections before 1874 were held over several weeks of open (non-secret) voting, and many seats went uncontested, so vote totals understate real support.

The result by province & territory

Seats won and vote share in each province and territory. Blank cells mean the party did not contest the province; the results table splits allied labels (Liberal-Conservatives, farmers' candidates, independents) that the headline figures group together.

Liberal334.1%147.0%6139.6%3434.8%1047.1%1538.1%556.8%12939.5%
Conservative14.5%113.8%1519.5%1717.6%26.8%217.8%117.5%3917.7%
Liberal-Conservative116.9%1010.4%1214.9%18.6%219.2%015.4%2612.4%
Conservative Labour00.9%00.5%
Unknown029.2%013.8%027.2%027.5%019.9%09.0%010.3%24.0%
Independent19.5%00.8%02.3%217.6%17.7%43.2%
Independent Liberal115.4%21.7%118.2%52.0%
Independent Conservative115.9%22.9%30.7%
Total seats64886516216206