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1894 Victorian colonial election
All 95 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly; 48 seats needed for a majority
Premier before election; James Patterson; Conservative	Elected Premier ; George Turner; Liberal

The 1894 Victorian colonial election was held on 20 September 1894 to elect the 16th Parliament of Victoria. All 95 seats in the Legislative Assembly were up for election, though 16 were uncontested.^[1]

Background

The Electoral Act Amendment Act of 1888 had increased the number seats in the Legislative Assembly from 86 to 95, and the number of electoral districts from 55 to 84 (73 single-member electorates, 11 two-member electorates).^[1] Plural voting was permitted for people who had property in more than one electorate.^[1]

The Liberals were split between Oppositionists, led by George Turner, and Ministerialists, led by Conservative Premier James Patterson.^[1]

Enrolments in most seats was lower than at the 1892 election, as a result of the Purification of the Rolls Act of 1891.^[2] It had the effect of disenfranchising large numbers of voters, mostly the working class, who had changed their residence in the year before the election.^[2]

Results

Legislative Assembly (FPTP)^[1]^[2]
Party		Votes	%	Seats	Change
	Liberal Oppositionists	75,404	46.03	47	9
	Conservative Ministerialists	44,479	27.15	27	1
	United Labour and Liberal	32,474	19.82	18	9
	Liberal Ministerialists	11,448	6.99	3
Formal votes		163,805
Informal votes		754
Total		164,559		95
Registered voters / turnout		234,552	70.85