1974 Botswana general election explained

Country:Botswana
Type:Legislative
Previous Election:1969 Botswana general election
Previous Year:1969
Outgoing Members:2nd Parliament of Botswana
Election Date:26 October 1974
Next Election:1979 Botswana general election
Next Year:1979
Elected Members:3rd Parliament of Botswana
Seats For Election:32 of the 36 seats in the National Assembly
Majority Seats:17
Registered:205,050
Image1:Seretse_Khama_during_Independence_Talks.png
Leader1:Seretse Khama
Party1:Botswana Democratic Party
Leaders Seat1:None
Last Election1:68.33%, 24 seats
Seats1:27
Seat Change1:3
Popular Vote1:49,047
Percentage1:76.62%
Swing1:8.29pp
Leader2:Bathoen Gaseitsiwe
Leaders Seat2:Kanye South
Party2:Botswana National Front
Last Election2:13.54%, 3 seats
Seats2:2
Seat Change2:1
Popular Vote2:7,358
Percentage2:11.49%
Swing2:2.05pp
Image4:Philip Matante during Independence Talks.png
Leader4:Philip Matante
Party4:BPP
Last Election4:12.14%, 3 seats
Seats4:2
Leaders Seat4:Francistown
Seat Change4:1
Popular Vote4:4,199
Percentage4:6.56%
Swing4:5.58pp
Image5:Motsamai Mpho 1965.png
Leader5:Motsamai Mpho
Leaders Seat5:Okavango
Party5:BIP
Last Election5:5.99%, 1 seats
Seats5:1
Popular Vote5:3,086
Percentage5:4.82%
Swing5:1.17pp
President
Before Election:Seretse Khama
Before Party:Botswana Democratic Party
After Election:Seretse Khama
After Party:Botswana Democratic Party

General elections were held in Botswana on 26 October 1974. With 205,050 registered voters, turnout was just 31.22%.[1] The result was a third successive landslide victory for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), who won 27 of the 32 elected seats,[2] including four in which they were unopposed.[3] Local elections were held on the same day, with a turnout of just 30.3%, and saw the BDP strengthen its position.[3]

Campaign

A total of 63 candidates contested the elections. The BDP ran a full slate of 32 candidates, the Botswana National Front had 14 candidates, the Botswana People's Party had eight, the Botswana Independence Party had six, and there were three independents.[3]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.eisa.org.za/wep/bot1974results.htm Botswana: 1974 National Assembly results
  2. [Dieter Nohlen]
  3. https://www.eisa.org.za/wep/bot1974election.htm Botswana: The October 1974 General Election