| Country: | Bechuanaland Protectorate |
| Type: | Legislative |
| Previous Election: | 1961 Bechuanaland general election |
| Previous Year: | 1961 |
| Election Date: | 1 March 1965 |
| Next Election: | 1969 Botswana general election |
| Next Year: | 1969 |
| Elected Members: | 1st Parliament of Botswana |
| Seats For Election: | 31 of the 35 seats in the National Assembly |
| Majority Seats: | 16 |
| Registered: | 175,042 |
| Image1: | Seretse_Khama_during_Independence_Talks.png |
| Leader1: | Seretse Khama |
| Party1: | Botswana Democratic Party |
| Leaders Seat1: | Serowe North |
| Seats1: | 28 |
| Popular Vote1: | 113,167 |
| Percentage1: | 80.38% |
| Leader2: | Philip Matante |
| Party2: | BPP |
| Leaders Seat2: | Francistown/Tati East |
| Seats2: | 3 |
| Popular Vote2: | 19,964 |
| Percentage2: | 14.18% |
| Prime Minister | |
| After Election: | Seretse Khama |
| After Party: | BDP |
General elections were held in the Bechuanaland Protectorate on 1 March 1965, the country's first election under universal suffrage.[1] The result was a landslide victory for the Bechuanaland Democratic Party,[2] with Seretse Khama becoming Prime Minister. Following the elections, the country became independent as Botswana on 30 September 1966, at which point Khama became President.[1]
The elections were contested by three main parties;[3] the Bechuanaland Democratic Party led by Khama, the Bechuanaland People's Party led by Philip Matante and the Bechuanaland Independence Party led by Motsamai Mpho. There was also a single independent candidate, G.E.N. Mannathoko, who ran in Tati West.[4] In the Lobatsi and Barolong constituency, there were two candidates from the Bechuanaland People's Party, one of which represented the Motsete branch.[4]
Despite acceptance that the BDP was likely to win easily, there was widespread interest in the elections. The BDP was seen as a moderate party with responsible leaders and realistic policies; in contrast the leaders of the other parties were perceived to be quarrelsome and overly ethnocentric.[1] Three BDP candidates were elected unopposed in Ghanzi, Kgalagadi and Kweneng West.[4]