1980 Jamaica general election
Jamaica
30 October 1980
All 60 seats in the House of Representatives
31 seats needed for a majority
Turnout86.91% (Increase 1.70pp)
PartyLeader % Seats +/–
JLP Edward Seaga 58.88 51 +38
PNP Michael Manley 41.05 9 −38
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Michael Manley
PNP		 Edward Seaga
JLP

General elections were held in Jamaica on 30 October 1980.[1] The balance of power in the 60-seat Jamaican House of Representatives was dramatically-shifted. Prior to the vote, the People's National Party (PNP), led by Prime Minister Michael Manley, had a 47 to 13 majority over the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), led by Edward Seaga. With the loss by 38 PNP incumbents to their JLP challengers, Seaga's party captured a 51 to 9 majority and Seaga replaced Manley as Prime Minister of Jamaica. Voter turnout was 87%.[1]

Conduct

The elections were marked by gun violence, exacerbated by economic pressure related to IMF austerity, lay-offs of public workers, and blackouts due to a national electric strike.[2] 153 elderly women died in the Eventide Home fire on 20 May, which was suspected, but not proven, to have been started by politically-motivated arsonists.[3]

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Jamaica Labour Party502,11558.8851+38
People's National Party350,06441.059–38
Independents5270.060New
Total852,706100.00600
Valid votes852,70699.07
Invalid/blank votes8,0400.93
Total votes860,746100.00
Registered voters/turnout990,41786.91
Source: Nohlen

References

  1. 1 2 Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p430 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  2. ↑ The bloody general election that changed Jamaica Jamaica Observer, 30 October 2012
  3. ↑ Remembering the Eventide Home fire victims Jamaica Observer, 21 May 2018
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