The 1871 Ontario general election was the second general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on March 21, 1871, to elect the 82 Members of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").
The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Edward Blake, won a slim majority of the seats, and formed the government.
The Ontario Conservative Party, led by John Sandfield Macdonald, served as the official opposition.
Electoral reforms.
Earlier in 1871, the Legislative Assembly passed an Act to give the courts jurisdiction to rule on petitions dealing with corrupt practices in elections.
In 1872, the Parliament of Canada passed an Act to compel MPs who were also members of a provincial legislature to resign such seats if they wished to stand again in a federal election. Five MLAs in the 1871 election were thus obliged to leave the Legislative Assembly in order to stand in federal ridings in 1872.
Results.
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Synopsis of results.
 ;templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" / ;
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  = open seat
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  = turnout is above provincial average
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  = incumbent had switched allegiance
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  = previously incumbent in another riding
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  = other incumbents renominated
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  = multiple candidates
MLAs elected by region and riding.
Party designations are as follows:
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  Liberal
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  Conservative
 ;templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" / ;  Conservative-Liberal
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Later resignations on campaigning at the federal level.
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Notes and references.
References.
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