List of general elections in Botswana

Botswana is a parliamentary republic with an executive presidency operating under a multi-party system. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The first president to govern Botswana was Sir Seretse Khama. ^[4] The country has had 13 formal general elections since 1961, with one happening every five years. ^{[5] [6]} The recent election was held on 30 October 2024. ^[7] Each president is limited to two five-year terms; Quett Masire, the second president, created Botswana’s term limit in 1997. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]} The country first adopted universal franchise during the 1965 Bechuanaland general election. ^[12]

Current composition of the Parliament of Botswana.

Every election from independence until 2024 was won by the Botswana Democratic Party. ^{[15] [16]} The President of Botswana is selected after the general election. For this process, the presidential candidate from the political party that wins a majority of the seats is sworn-in as president. ^[17]

Summary

The table below excludes European Advisory Council elections as members were elected by European residents, not citizens of the Protectorate themselves. ^{[18] [19]} During these elections, Bechuanaland citizens also did not get to participate in the British Administration. ^[19]

List of general elections in Botswana

Election	Winner			Runner-up			Seats won by other parties	Total seats	Voter turnout	Reference(s)
	Party		Seats won	Party		Seats won
1961 [b]	BPFP [c]		n/a	n/a		n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	[20] [21] [22]
1965		BDP [d]	28		BPP [e]	3	0	31	74.55%	[12] [21] [23]
1969		BDP	24		BNF [f]	3	4	31	54.7%	[23] [24]
1974		BDP	27		BNF	2	3	32	31.2%	[23] [25]
1979		BDP	29		BNF	2	1	32	58.4%	[23] [26]
1984		BDP	29		BNF	4	1	34	77.6%	[23] [27]
1989		BDP	31		BNF	3	0	34	68.2%	[23] [28] [29]
1994		BDP	27		BNF	13	0	40	76.6%	[23] [30] [31]
1999		BDP	33		BNF	6	1	40	77.11%	[23] [32] [33]
2004		BDP	44		BNF	12	1	57	76.2%	[23] [34] [35]
2009		BDP	45		BNF	6	6	57	76.71%	[23] [35] [36] [37]
2014		BDP	37		UDC [g]	17	3	57	84.75%	[35] [38]
2019		BDP	38		UDC	15	4	57	84.1%	[35] [14]
2024		UDC	36		BCP	15	10	61	81.42%	[7] [39] [40]

1. There are 61 elected members and 8 appointed members in the parliament. ^[14]
2. A new constitution in 1960 created a Legislative Council, an Executive Council, and an Advisory African Council. The Legislative Council had just over 30 members; 10 colonial officials, 10 blacks, 10 whites, one Asian and some co-opted members. Seretse Khama received the most votes in the election for the black representatives.
3. Bechuanaland Protectorate Federal Party
4. Botswana Democratic Party
5. Botswana’s People Party
6. Botswana National Front
7. Umbrella for Democratic Change

• Electoral maps of Botswana general elections
• 
  1965 Bechuanaland general election results by constituency
• 
  1969 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  1974 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  1979 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  1984 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  1989 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  1994 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  1999 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  2004 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  2009 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  2014 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  2019 Botswana general election results by constituency
• 
  2024 Botswana general election constituency map

References

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