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

7 May 1965
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 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

The election was held using two electoral rolls, an A roll, which was largely white (95,208 whites and 2,256 black Africans) 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.

Results

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.