The elections saw a landslide victory for the Federal Party under Godfrey Huggins, who had been Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia for the past 20 years.
Nyasaland did not have direct elections at this point and so was excluded until the Legislative Council there enacted proper provisions.
At the election day, the electorate was comprised as follows: The advent of the Federation caused a profound shift in the structure of politics in the Rhodesias.
Opponents of federation formed the Confederate Party, which advocated a system in the Rhodesias akin to apartheid in South Africa.
Dr Alexander Scott in Lusaka and Norman Lacey in the copperbelt constituency of Nkana-Chingola both advocated a liberal racial policy similar to that which the Progressive Party had been intending to offer.
Percy Ibbotson, the specially elected European member representing African interests from Southern Rhodesia, died on 3 April 1955.
Jasper Savanhu, the specially elected African member for Mashonaland (Southern Rhodesia), had problems with the proposed new constitution in terms of its provisions for voters' qualifications.