1965 Rwandan general election

General elections were held in Rwanda on 10 March 1965, the first direct one in the country and the first since independence in 1962. At the time, the country was a one-party state with MDR-Parmehutu as the sole legal party. Its leader, Grégoire Kayibanda, ran unopposed in the country's first election for President. Voter turnout was 88%.

1965 Rwandan general election

10 March 1965

Presidential election

Nominee Grégoire Kayibanda Party MDR-Parmehutu Popular vote 1,236,654 Percentage 100%

President before election Grégoire Kayibanda MDR-Parmehutu Elected President Grégoire Kayibanda MDR-Parmehutu

Electoral system

The 47 members of the National Assembly elections were elected in ten multi-member constituencies. Voters could approve the entire MDR-Parmehutu list, or give a preferential vote to a single candidate.

Results

President

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Grégoire Kayibanda	MDR-Parmehutu	1,236,654	100.00
Total			1,236,654	100.00
Valid votes			1,236,654	98.03
Invalid/blank votes			24,804	1.97
Total votes			1,261,458	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			1,440,440	87.57
Source: Nohlen et al.

National Assembly

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	MDR-Parmehutu	1,231,788	100.00	47	+12
Total		1,231,788	100.00	47	+3
Valid votes		1,231,788	97.76
Invalid/blank votes		28,255	2.24
Total votes		1,260,043	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		1,440,440	87.48
Source: Sternberger et al.