Rhodesian general election, 1965

7 May 1965

All 65 seats to the House of Assembly of Rhodesia 33 seats were needed for a majority

	First party	Second party

Leader	Ian Smith	Josiah Gondo
Party	RF	NPP
Last election	35	N/A
Seats won	50	10
Seat change	15	10
Popular vote	N/A
Percentage	N/A ("A"-roll seats)	N/A ("B"-roll seats)

Prime Minister before election

Ian Smith
RF

Elected Prime Minister

Ian Smith
RF

Rhodesia

This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Rhodesia
Constitutional history — Overview 1890–1923 BSA Company rule 1923–1980 Southern Rhodesia 1953–1963 Rhodesia–Nyasaland Federation 1965–1979 Rhodesia under UDI 1979 Zimbabwe Rhodesia (under UDI)
Government Governor / President Prime Minister
Legislature 1899–1923 Legislative Council 1924–1970 Legislative Assembly
Elections General 1924 1928 1933 1934 1939 1946 1948 1954 1958 1962 1965 1970 1974 1977 1979 1980 Legislative Council 1899 1902 1905 1908 1911 1914 1920 Referendums 1922 1934 1953 1961 1964 1969 1979
Political parties African National Congress Communist Party Labour Party Liberal Party Rhodesia Party Rhodesian Action Party Rhodesian Front United African National Council United Federal Party Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU)
Foreign relations Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) Mission in Lisbon Passport
National symbols Flag (other flags) Anthem
Other countries Atlas

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

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	%	Seats	Votes	%	Votes	%	Seats
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	New
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 2 3 Dolf Sternberger, Bernhard Vogel, Dieter Nohlen & Klaus Landfried (1978) Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band II: Afrika, Zweiter Halbband, p1678
↑ 7 May 1965 House of Assembly Election African Elections Database

Elections and referendums in Zimbabwe and its antecedents

Presidential elections	1990 1996 2002 2008 2013 2018

Parliamentary elections	1899 1902 1905 1908 1911 1914 1920 1924 1928 1933 1934 1939 1946 1948 1954 1958 1962 1965 1970 1974 1977 1979 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008 2013 2018

Senate elections	2005 2008 2013 2018

Referendums	1922 1934 1953 1961 1964 1969 1979 2000 2013

See also: Elections in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland

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