The following elections occurred in the year 1871.
Africa
Europe
- 1871 Dutch general election
- July 1871 French by-elections
- February 1871 French legislative election and July 1871 French by-elections
- 1871 German federal election
- 1871 Portuguese legislative election
- elections in Spain
United Kingdom
- United Kingdom:
- 1871 Dover by-election
- January and April 1871 Durham City by-election
- 1871 East Surrey by-election
- 1871 Galway County by-election
- 1871 Halifax by-election
- 1871 Hereford by-election
- 1871 Limerick City by-election
- 1871 County Limerick by-election
- 1871 County Meath by-election
- 1871 County Monaghan by-election
- 1871 Monmouthshire by-election
- 1871 Newry by-election
- 1871 Norwich by-election
- 1871 Plymouth by-election
- 1871 Ripon by-election
- 1871 South Norfolk by-election
- 1871 Stalybridge by-election
- 1871 Tamworth by-election
- 1871 Truro by-election
- 1871 West Norfolk by-election
- 1871 West Staffordshire by-election
- 1871 County Westmeath by-election
- 1871 Westmorland by-election
- 1871 York by-election
North America
Canada
United States
- California:
- Georgia: US Senate special elections
- Illinois:
- Kansas: US Senate election
- Kentucky: US Senate election
- Massachusetts: US Senate election
- Michigan: US Senate election
- Minnesota:
- New Hampshire: US House of Representatives elections
- New Jersey: gubernatorial election
- New York: state election
- Texas:
- Virginia: US Senate election
- West Virginia: US Senate election