1879 Norwegian parliamentary election

← 1876 July–December 1879 1882 →
All 114 seats in the Storting 58 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	48.67%
Prime Minister before election Frederik Gottschalck Haxthausen Due Prime Minister after election Frederik Gottschalck Haxthausen Due

Parliamentary elections were held in Norway in 1879.^[1] The elections were not held on a specific date, as the various cities and Amts held the election at their own choice.^[2] Instead, the elections stretched from June to several months later.^[2] Voting rights were highly limited, as women were not allowed to vote and there were strong restrictions on men's ability to vote.^[2] It has been estimated that only 2.5% of the population of Christiania (Oslo), and 4.6% of the national population, was eligible to vote.^[2][3] The national election turnout was 48.7% (85% in Christiania), and 114 representatives were elected for the Norwegian Parliament,^[3] an increase of three seats compared to the Storting elected in 1876.^[4]

While there were no official parties, two informal groups existed, namely Venstre, or "the Liberals" (de liberale), and Høire.^[2] The latter list was called Aftenpostens og Morgenbladets liste in Christiania.^[2] The Venstre opposition, led by Johan Sverdrup, gained popularity particularly in the districts, while Høire remained the most popular in the cities.^[2] In Christiania, the Aftenpostens og Morgenbladets liste won about 1,800 of the votes, while Venstre won about 600.^[2]

Results

Of the 114 seats, 52 were won by farmers, sheriffs, church singers and teachers, 30 by civil servants and 29 by people with other professions.^[5]

References