1933 Brazilian Constitutional Assembly election

Constitutional Assembly elections were held in Brazil on 3 May 1933 to elect the 214 directly elected deputies of an Assembly that would draw up a new constitution. A further 40 members were indirectly elected: 18 by trade unions, 17 by employer organisations, three by members of liberal professions and two by civil servants.[1] The elections have been described as the first democratic and honest elections in the country's history.[2][3]

They were also the first national elections with women's suffrage, although it was still limited to married women, unmarried women with their own income and widows.[4] Carlota Pereira de Queirós became the first woman elected to national office.[4]

Electoral system

The elections were held using open list proportional representation.[5] Voters could cast preferential votes for candidates from multiple parties.[5]

Despite the voting age being reduced from 21 to 18 and women's suffrage being introduced, the number of registered voters fell from 1,893,000 in 1930 to 1,466,700.[6][7]

Results

A total of 1,037 candidates contested the elections.[8]

PartyVotes%Seats
Progressive Party31
Baía Social Democratic Party20
Single List for a United São Paulo17
Social Democratic Party of Pernambuco15
Liberal Republican Party13
Radical People's Party10
Pará Liberal Party7
Catholic Electoral League6
Autonomist Party [pt]6
National Party6
Mineiro Republican Party6
Paraíba Progressive Party5
Maranhão Republican Party4
Social Democratic Party4
Republican Social Party [pt]4
Fluminense Progressive Union4
United Front3
Freedom and Civics3
Agriculture Party3
Catarinense Liberal Party [pt]3
Mato Grossense Liberal Party3
Socialist National Party3
Rio Grande do Norte People's Party3
Social Democratic Party3
Espírito Santo Social Democratic Party3
Brazilian Socialist Party3
Amazonense Civic Union3
Maranhense Republican Union3
Baía is still Baía2
Chapa Popular2
Economist Party of Brazil2
Fluminense Socialist Party2
Liberal Workers' Party1
Legenda Constitucionalista1
Legenda Hugo Napoleão1
Legenda por Santa Catarina1
Constitutionalist Party1
Democratic Party1
Paranaense Liberal Party1
Republican Social Party [pt]1
Nationalist Social Party [pt]1
Sergipe Republican Union1
Independents2
Indirectly elected members40
Total254
Valid votes1,157,76194.69
Invalid/blank votes64,8635.31
Total votes1,222,624100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,466,70083.36
Source: TSE, TSE

Aftermath

The Assembly began work in November 1933 and the new constitution drafted by the Assembly was promulgated in July 1934. It provided for a federal state with a bicameral parliament, but abolished the position of vice president.[9] The Assembly was then converted into a Chamber of Deputies and elected Getúlio Vargas as president.[9]

References

  1. ^ Teresa Cristina de Novaes Marques (2021). Women's Vote in Brazil. p. 94.
  2. ^ Michael L. Conniff & Frank D. McCann (1991). Modern Brazil: Elites and Masses in Historical Perspective. p. 33.
  3. ^ Riordan Roett (2016). Brazil: What Everyone Needs to Know. pp. 31–32.
  4. ^ a b "Direito de voto feminino completa 76 anos no Brasil; saiba mais sobre essa conquista". Poder. 24 February 2008.
  5. ^ a b Jairo Nicolau (2007). "The open-list electoral system in Brazil" (PDF). Dados. 3.
  6. ^ Dieter Nohlen (2005). Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II. p. 173. ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3.
  7. ^ "Boletim Eleitoral" (PDF). 13 June 1934.
  8. ^ "Eleições 1933". TSE.
  9. ^ a b Brazil, a Country Study. 1983. p. 41.