1925 Assembly of Representatives election

Elections to the Assembly of Representatives were held in Mandatory Palestine on 6 December 1925, electing the legislature of the Yishuv. Around half the votes went to parties associated with trade unions.[1] Ahdut HaAvoda remained the largest party in the Assembly.

1925 Assembly of Representatives election

6 December 1925
221 seats in the Assembly of Representatives
Party Leader % Seats ± Ahdut HaAvoda David Ben-Gurion 54 -16 Hapoel Hatzair Yosef Sprinzak 30 -11 Other None 20 +20 HaSephardim None 19 -35 Hatzohar Ze'ev Jabotinsky 15 +15 Hebrew Women's Association Beba Idelson 13 +13 Agricultural Bloc None 13 +4 Democrat's Association None 12 +3 Mizrachi Yehuda Leib Maimon 7 -2 Centre List None 6 +6 National Citizens None 6 +6 Ma'amad Hapoalim None 6 +6 Hapoel HaMizrachi None 6 +6 Hapoel HaMizrachi HaMeuhad None 4 +4 Polish List None 4 +4 Valley Kibbutzim List None 2 +2 Safed Municipality List None 2 +2 HaMerkaz HaHakla'i None 1 +1 Galilee Farmers Association None 1 +1 Eastern Farmers Association None 1 +1 Georgian's List None 1 +1 Hebrew Women's Popular list None 1 +1 Givat HaRambam list None 1 +1 Young Mizrachi List None 1 +1 Craftsmen's Centre None 1 -5 Bnei Brak Residents' List None 1 +1 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Electoral system

Following the 1920 elections, debate continued on the issue of women's suffrage.[2] In 1923 Mizrachi called for a men-only referendum on whether women should be entitled to vote, and threatened to withdraw from the Yishuv if one was not held.[2] The Jewish National Council agreed to hold one on 8 November 1925, but with female participation.[2] This led to Agudat Yisrael calling for a boycott.[2] In response, Mizrachi and the Jewish National Council agreed to cancel the referendum.[2]

The number of eligible voters rose from around 26,000 to 64,764.[3][4] However, turnout was only around 57%.[4] This was put down to an Agudat Yisrael boycott, several delays in holding the elections, and the unfamiliarity of some women with voting.[4]

The number of seats was reduced from 314 to 221.[3][4]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Ahdut HaAvoda	8,834		54	–16
Hapoel Hatzair	5,337		30	–11
HaSephardim			19	–35
Revisionists			15	New
Hebrew Women's Association			13	New
Agricultural Bloc			9	New
Democrat's Association			9	New
Mizrachi			7	–2
Centre List			6	New
National Citizens			6	New
Ma'amad Hapoalim	1,028		6	New
Hapoel HaMizrachi			6	New
Hapoel HaMizrachi HaMeuhad			4	New
Polish Immigrants List			4	New
Valley Kibbutzim List			2	New
Safed Municipality List			2	New
HaMerkaz HaHakla'i			1	New
Galilee Farmers Association			1	New
Eastern Farmers Association			1	New
Georgian's List			1	New
Hebrew Women's Popular list			1	New
Givat HaRambam list			1	New
Young Mizrachi List			1	–1
Craftsmen's Centre			1	–5
Bnei Brak Residents' List			1	New
Others			20	–
Total	35,987	100	221	–93
Registered voters/turnout	64,764		–	–
Source: Mackie & Rose[5]

References

1. "Palestine Parties" The Times, 18 December 1925, p13, Issue 44148
2. Zalman Abramov (1976) Perpetual dilemma: Jewish religion in the Jewish State Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, p108
3. Abramov, p90
4. Abramov, p109
5. Thomas T Mackie & Richard Rose (1991) The International Almanac of Electoral History, Macmillan, p243 (vote figures)