1965 Rhodesian general election

General elections were held in Rhodesia, renamed the year before from Southern Rhodesia, on 7 May 1965. The results was a victory for the ruling Rhodesian Front, which won 50 of the 65 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Rhodesia. Later in the year, the government made a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI).

1965 Rhodesian general election

← 1962 7 May 1965 1970 →

All 65 seats in the Legislative Assembly
33 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Ian Smith Josiah Gondo
Party RF Rhodesia Party
Last election 35
Seats won 50 10
Seat change Increase 15 New

Composition of the Legislative Assembly after the election

Prime Minister before election

Ian Smith
RF

Elected Prime Minister

Ian Smith
RF

Electoral system

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The election was held using two electoral rolls, an A roll, which was largely white (95,208 whites and 2,256 black Africans)[1][2] and a B roll, which was largely African. Although both rolls could vote for all 65 seats, A roll votes were given higher weighting for the 50 constituency seats, and B roll votes higher weighting for the 15 district seats.

Campaign

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Two parties contested the elections; the Rhodesian Front ran in all 50 constituency seats (in 22 of which it was unopposed) but no district seats. The Rhodesia Party ran in both the constituency and district seats.[1]

Results

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Party Constituency District Total
seats
+/−
A roll B roll Seats A roll B roll Seats
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Rhodesian Front 28,175 79.32 206 28.61 50 50 +15
Rhodesia Party 6,381 17.96 505 70.14 0 12,936 42.13 754 52.25 10 10 New
Independents 964 2.71 4 0.56 0 17,770 57.87 689 47.75 5 5 +4
Total 35,520 100.00 720 100.00 50 30,706 100.00 1,443 100.00 15 65 0
Valid votes 35,520 98.86 720 82.10 30,706 86.98 1,443 88.20
Invalid/blank votes 411 1.14 157 17.90 4,595 13.02 193 11.80
Total votes 35,931 100.00 877 100.00 35,301 100.00 1,636 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 97,284 36.9 11,577 7.5 97,284 36.2 11,577 14.0
Source: Sternberger et al.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Dolf Sternberger, Bernhard Vogel, Dieter Nohlen & Klaus Landfried (1978) Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band II: Afrika, Zweiter Halbband, p1678
  2. ^ 7 May 1965 House of Assembly Election African Elections Database