1973 Bahraini general election

General elections were held in Bahrain for the first time on 12 December 1973. 30 of the 44 seats in the unicameral National Assembly were contested, the other 14 were ex officio. Of the 24,883 registered voters, 19,509 cast a ballot, giving a voter turnout of 78%.

Two distinct political blocs amongst the elected members; the "People's Bloc" consisted of eight Shia and Sunni members elected from urban areas and associated with left-wing and nationalist organizations, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Bahrain, the National Liberation Front – Bahrain or the Baathist movement. The 'Religious Bloc' was made up of six Shia members mostly from rural constituencies. The remaining members were independents with shifting positions.