General Elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 13 September 1976 for all 36 seats in the House of Representatives.

Electoral System

The 36 members of the House of Representatives are elected in single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting. There is no fixed election date in effect in Trinidad and at this time; hence, the choice of election date is the prerogative of the Prime Minister.

Background

The September 1976 election was the first since Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic within the British Commonwealth under a new Constitution on 1 August 1976.

Political Parties & Candidates

As opposed to the previous election in 1971, which had been boycotted by the main opposition parties and had thus resulted in the total success of the People's National Movement (PNM) party, the 1976 poll was contested by 11 political parties and a number of independent candidates. Among these figured prominently the newly-founded leftist United Labour Front (ULF) and the Democratic Action Congress. In total, 269 candidates contested the 1976 election.

Results

Final results gave the PNM 24 seats, the same number it had won in 1966 when the last fully contested election was held in the country.  The United Labour Front (ULF) won ten seats ad the Democratic Action Congress (DAC) won the two seats from Tobago.

The New PNM Cabinet formed by . Eric Williams, Prime Minister since 1956, was sworn in on September 22.

The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago was officially proclaimed on 26 September 1976.

Voter Turnout

Voter turnout was 55.93%.