Page "Politics of Bermuda" Paragraph 10

Bermuda's first election held on the basis of universal adult suffrage and equal voting took place on 22 May 1968 ; previously, the franchise had been limited to property owners and those above the age of 21.

Persons who owned land in one or more parishes could vote in each parish.

In the 1968 election, the UBP won 30 House of Assembly seats, while the PLP won 10 and the BDP lost the three seats it had previously held.

The UBP continued to maintain control of the government, although by decreasing margins in the Assembly, until 1998 when the PLP won the general election for the first time with 54 % of the popular vote and a 24-seat majority in the 40-member Assembly.

The PLP would succeed gaining a second term in July 2003, although by a reduced majority of 52 % margin of the popular vote and 22 seats in a new 36-seat Assembly.

A leadership battle followed the election, resulting in the PLP's first Premier, Jennifer M. Smith ( now Dame Jennifer ) being ousted with William Alexander Scott chosen as new Party Leader and later Premier.

In December 2007, after an October 2006 party leadership change in which Dr. Ewart F. Brown, Jr. became Premier, the PLP gained a third term by maintaining a 52 % margin of the popular vote and 22 out of 36 seats in the Assembly.

Paula Cox replaced Brown as leader of the PLP, and therefore the Premier, in October 2010.