1917 Russian Constituent Assembly election — First democratic elections held in the Russian Empire
Russia's first free elections ended without democratic governance after the Bolsheviks dissolved the resulting Constituent Assembly and established one-party rule.
Key Facts
- Election date
- 25 November 1917
- Leading party
- Socialist-Revolutionary Party (plurality)
- Bolshevik urban performance
- Clear winners in urban centres
- Western Front soldier vote share
- ~two-thirds for Bolsheviks
- Majority outcome
- No party won an outright majority
- Assembly fate
- Dissolved by Bolsheviks after single session
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The February Revolution of 1917 created the political conditions for democratic elections in Russia. A Constituent Assembly had long been demanded by reformers, and the Provisional Government organized elections that were delayed by two months from their original schedule, finally proceeding in late November 1917.
On 25 November 1917, elections to the Russian Constituent Assembly were held, generally recognized as the first free elections in Russian history. The Socialist-Revolutionary Party won a plurality of seats on the strength of rural peasant support for land reform, while the Bolsheviks dominated urban centres and the Western Front military vote.
Despite the historic vote, no democratically elected government emerged. The Bolsheviks, citing outdated voter rolls and the assembly's conflict with the Soviet Congress, dissolved the Constituent Assembly and proceeded to govern as a one-party state, banning all opposition parties and ending the brief democratic experiment.
Political Outcome
Socialist-Revolutionary Party won a plurality; Bolsheviks dissolved the Constituent Assembly and established one-party rule
Provisional Government and multi-party political competition
Bolshevik one-party state with all opposition parties banned