1881 Spanish General Election
21 August 1881 · The Restoration and the turno pacífico
A general election was held in Spain on 21 August 1881 (for the Congress of Deputies), and on 2 September 1881 (for the Senate), to elect the members of the 2nd Cortes under the Spanish Constitution of 1876, during the Restoration period. All 432 seats in the Congress of Deputies were up for election, as well as 180 of 360 seats in the Senate.
A turno pacífico election: the result was largely arranged in advance through the Interior Ministry's encasillado and enforced locally by caciques. The recorded majorities describe the system, not free voting.
Prime Minister before
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Liberal
Prime Minister (continued)
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Liberal
Largest force
Fusionist
297 seats
Turnout
71.4%