Soviet Union legislative election, 1950

Soviet Union legislative election, 1950

12 March 1950

All of seats to the Soviet Supreme Soviet   First party   Leader Joseph Stalin Party CPSU Leader since 21 January 1924 Seats won 580 (Soviet of the Union) 509 (Soviet of Nationalities)

General Secretary before election Joseph Stalin CPSU Elected General Secretary Joseph Stalin CPSU

Elections to the Supreme Soviet were held in the Soviet Union on 12 March 1950.^[1]

Electoral system

Candidates had to be nominated by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) or by a public organisation.^[2] However, all public organisations were controlled by the party and were subservient to a 1931 law that required them to accept party rule.^[2] The CPSU itself remained the only legal one in the country.^[3]

Voters could vote against the CPSU candidate, but could only do so by using polling booths, whereas votes for the party could be cast simply by submitting a blank ballot.^[2] Turnout was required to be over 50% for the election to be valid.^[2]

Candidates

CPSU candidates accounted for around three quarters of the nominees, whilst many of the others were members of Komsomol.^[4]

Results

Party	Soviet of the Union			Soviet of Nationalities
	Votes	%	Seats	Votes	%	Seats
Communist Party of the Soviet Union	110,788,377	99.7	580	110,782,009	99.7	519
Independents			98			119
Against	300,146	0.3	–	306,830	0.3	–
Invalid/blank votes	1,487	–	–	1,619	–	–
Total	111,090,010	100	678	111,090,010	100	638
Registered voters/turnout	111,116,373	100	–	111,116,373	100	–
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

References

1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1642 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. Nohlen & Stöver, p1630
3. Nohlen & Stöver, p1654
4. Nohlen & Stöver, p1631