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
  First party Second party
 
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

Rhodesia
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politics and government of
Rhodesia

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 Front28,17578.420623.650−−−−−50+15
Rhodesia Party6,38117.750560.2012,93636.675446.11010–5
Independents9642.740.4017,77050.368940.355+4
Invalid/blank votes411−157−−4,595−193−−−−
Total35,9311008771005035,3011001,63610015650
Registered voters/turnout97,28436.911,5777.5−−97,28436.211,57714.0−−
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
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