1965 Rhodesian general election

General elections were held in 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 Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly. Later in the year, the government made a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI).

1965 Southern Rhodesian general election

7 May 1965
All 65 seats to the Southern Rhodesian Legislative Assembly 33 seats were needed for a majority
Leader Ian Smith Josiah Gondo Party RF Rhodesia Party Last election 35 15 (United Federal Party) Seats won 50 10 Seat change 15 5
Prime Minister before election Ian Smith RF Elected Prime Minister Ian Smith RF

Electoral system

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

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

Party	Constituencies					Districts					Total seats	+/−
	A Roll		B Roll		Seats	A Roll		B Roll		Seats
	Votes	%	Votes	%		Votes	%	Votes	%
Rhodesian Front	28,175	78.4	206	23.6	50	−	−	−	−	−	50	+15
Rhodesia Party	6,381	17.7	505	60.2	0	12,936	36.6	754	46.1	10	10	–5
Independents	964	2.7	4	0.4	0	17,770	50.3	689	40.3	5	5	+4
Invalid/blank votes	411	−	157	−	−	4,595	−	193	−	−	−	−
Total	35,931	100	877	100	50	35,301	100	1,636	100	15	65	0
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

1. 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