This article will address 1965 Rhodesian general election, a topic of great relevance and interest today. 1965 Rhodesian general election is an issue that has generated debate and controversy in different areas, awakening the interest of experts, academics and the general public. Over the years, 1965 Rhodesian general election has gained increasing importance due to its impact on society and people's daily lives. In this context, it is pertinent to analyze 1965 Rhodesian general election in detail, exploring its different facets, implications and possible solutions. Likewise, we will seek to offer an objective and enriching perspective on 1965 Rhodesian general election, in order to promote a constructive dialogue and foster greater understanding of this topic.
| |||||||||||||||||||
All 65 seats in the Legislative Assembly 33 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||
Composition of the Legislative Assembly after the 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).
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.
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.
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. |