1980 Jamaica general election All 60 seats in the House of Representatives 31 seats needed for a majorityTurnout 86.91% ( 1.70pp )
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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
Party Votes % Seats +/– Jamaica Labour Party 502,115 58.88 51 +38 People's National Party 350,064 41.05 9 –38 Independents 527 0.06 0 New Total 852,706 100.00 60 0 Valid votes 852,706 99.07 Invalid/blank votes 8,040 0.93 Total votes 860,746 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 990,417 86.91 Source: Nohlen
References
^ a b Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I , p430 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
^ H.G. Helps (30 October 2012). "The bloody general election that changed Jamaica". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03.
^ Remembering the Eventide Home fire victims Jamaica Observer, 21 May 2018