They were the first elections in which non-white residents were able to vote, and three non-white candidates were elected to the General Assembly; Stephen Dillet, Thomas Minns and John Deane.
[3] Balfour ordered that elections be held within a fortnight, with the vote in Nassau set for 17 December.
[3] The elections were the first to be held under the 1833 Act to Relieve His Majesty's Free Coloured and Black Subjects of the Bahamas Islands From All Civil Disability, which gave free non-white men over 21 the right to vote and stand in general elections in the territory, though slaves were still excluded.
[4] Although property qualifications still severely restricted the franchise, with only around 4% of the population eligible to vote,[4] several non-white candidates ran in the elections.
[3] The 25 members of the Assembly were elected in 13 constituencies ranging in size from one to four seats.