Czech Senate election, 1996

Senate elections were held in the Czech Republic for the first time on 15 and 16 November 1996, with a second round on 22 and 23 November.^[1] the first after independence. The result was a victory for the Civic Democratic Party, which won 32 of the 81 seats. Voter turnout was 34.9% in the first round and 30.6% in the second.^[2]

This was the only time Senate elections were held in all 81 single-member constituencies at the same time. Senators elected in 1996 were divided into three classes depending on number of their constituencies to determine which Senate seats would be up for election in 1998, 2000 and 2002. Senators in the Czech Republic are elected for six-year terms, with one-third being renewed every two years.

The elections were held using the two-round system, with an absolute majority required to be elected.

Results

Party	First round		Second round		Seats
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Civic Democratic Party	1,006,036	36.5	1,134,044	49.2	32
Czech Social Democratic Party	559,304	20.3	733,713	31.8	25
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia	393,494	14.3	45,304	2.0	2
KDU-ČSL	274,316	9.9	247,819	10.7	13
Civic Democratic Alliance	222,319	8.1	119,730	5.2	7
Independent Candidate	117,641	4.3	11,993	0.5	1
Democratic Union	185,015	6.7	14,656	0.6	1
Independents and others					0
Invalid/blank votes	32,960	–	16,182	–	–
Total	2,791,085	100	2,323,441	100	81
Sourcesa: Nohlen & Stöver, Czech Statistical Office

References

1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p471 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. Nohlen & Stöver, p472