1878 German federal election

Federal elections were held in Germany on 30 July 1878. The National Liberal Party remained the largest party in the Reichstag with 97 of the 397 seats, despite the Centre Party receiving more votes. Voter turnout was 63.4%.

1878 German federal election

30 July 1878 (1878-07-30)
All 397 seats in the Reichstag 199 seats needed for a majority
Registered	9,128,305 2.07%
Turnout	5,780,996 (63.33%) 2.69pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Rudolf von Bennigsen Ludwig Windthorst Otto von Helldorff Party NlP Centre DKP Leader since 1867 26 May 1874 7 June 1876 Last election 26.67%, 127 seats 24.83%, 93 seats 9.59%, 40 seats Seats won 97 94 59 Seat change 30 1 19 Popular vote 1,291,161 1,315,720 736,826 Percentage 22.41% 22.84% 12.79% Swing 4.26pp 1.99pp 3.20pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   DFP Polen Leader Viktor I, Duke of Ratibor Party DRP DFP Polish Party Last election 7.85%, 38 seats 7.64%, 34 seats 4.00%, 14 seats Seats won 57 26 14 Seat change 19 8 0 Popular vote 785,631 395,065 216,148 Percentage 13.64% 6.86% 3.75% Swing 5.79pp 0.78pp 0.25pp
Map of results (by constituencies)
President of the Reichstag before election Max von Forckenbeck NlP President of the Reichstag after election Max von Forckenbeck NlP

Results

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Centre Party	1,315,720	22.84	−1.99	94	+1
	National Liberal Party	1,291,161	22.41	−4.26	97	−30
	German Reich Party	785,631	13.64	+5.79	57	+19
	German Conservative Party	736,826	12.79	+3.20	59	+19
	Socialist Workers' Party	437,158	7.59	−1.55	9	−4
	German Progress Party	395,065	6.86	−0.78	26	−8
	Polish Party	216,148	3.75	−0.25	14	0
	Alsace-Lorraine parties	178,883	3.11	−0.59	15	0
	German-Hanoverian Party	106,555	1.85	+0.27	10	+6
	Independent liberals	99,511	1.73	+0.52	7	+2
	Löwe-Berger Group	78,152	1.36	−0.37	5	−4
	German People's Party	68,851	1.20	+0.37	3	−1
	Danish Party	16,145	0.28	−0.04	1	0
	Independent conservatives	9,936	0.17	−0.26	0	0
	Old Liberals	8,496	0.15	+0.02	0	0
	Christian Social Party	3,229	0.06	New	0	New
	Schleswig-Holstein Particularist Liberals	2,258	0.04	−0.06	0	0
Others		10,389	0.18	–0.05	0	0
Unknown		833	0.01	0.00	0	0
Total		5,760,947	100.00	–	397	0
Valid votes		5,760,947	99.65
Invalid/blank votes		20,049	0.35
Total votes		5,780,996	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		9,128,305	63.33
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland

Alsace-Lorraine

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Protesters	70,524	34.52	−11.14	6	−1
	Clericals	59,970	29.36	+2.10	5	+2
	Autonomists	48,389	23.69	−1.16	4	−1
	German Reich Party	24,437	11.96	+11.75	0	0
	German Conservative Party	343	0.17	+0.14	0	0
	Socialist Workers' Party	141	0.07	New	0	New
Others		478	0.23	−0.37	0	0
Total		204,282	100.00	–	15	0
Valid votes		204,282	98.91
Invalid/blank votes		2,247	1.09
Total votes		206,529	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		322,310	64.08
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland