General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 3 May 1866 to elect 6 of the 15 members of the Landtag. Article 98 of the 1862 constitution stipulated that half of the twelve elected members had to resign after three years. The six seats were indirectly elected by electors selected by voters.
Background The term of the elected Landtag was six years, but per Article 98 of the 1862 Constitution of Liechtenstein half of the twelve serving members had to voluntarily resign their seats after three years and allow for new elections. Those who had to give up their seats were decided in a Landtag session on 9 October 1865 via lottery.
The Landtag's term was characterized by passing numerous laws, including renewing the customs treaty between Liechtenstein and Austria in 1863, formalizing the municipal law of Liechtenstein in 1864, and the Tax Act of 1865.
Electors Electors were selected through elections that were held between 4 March and 22 April; each municipality had two electors for every 100 inhabitants. All male citizens aged 24 and above that were self-employed were eligible to vote.
MunicipalityElectors+/–Balzers200Eschen180Gamprin60Mauren200Planken20Ruggell120Schaan200Schellenberg60Triesen160Triesenberg200Vaduz160Total1560Source: Vogt
Results
The electors met on 3 May in the hall of Vaduz Castle to elect six Landtag members and one deputy member. Of the 156 electors, 154 were present for the voting. The Landtag members and the deputy were elected in three ballots. There were no political parties and the election of members was almost entirely focused on an individual's personality.
Elected members +First ballotElected memberMunicipalityVotesRuggell115Franz WolfingerBalzers94Source: Vogt +Second ballotElected memberMunicipalityVotesJosef BargetzeTriesen79Johann Baptist BeckTriesenberg76Source: Vogt +Third ballotElected memberMunicipalityVotesChristoph WangerSchaan77Alois Josef SchlegelEschen75Source: Vogt Josef Bargetze declined his election and was succeeded by deputy Johann Baptist Quaderer.
Elected deputy +First ballotElected memberMunicipalityVotesJohann Baptist QuadererSchaan104Source: Vogt The remaining deputy positions were left vacant.
Aftermath The first meeting of the Landtag following the elections took place on 15 May. Karl Schädler remained as President of the Landtag and as vice president.
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