A wider Franchise

Question 1

1832 Great Reform Act

Answer 1

This disenfranchised 56 boroughs in England and Wales and reduced another 31 to only one MP. It created 67 new constituencies and gave the vote to householders who paid a yearly rental of £10 or more.

Question 2

1867 Representation of the People Act

Answer 2

Allowed most men in the UK to have the vote, this however only extended the franchise by 2 million since women and the property-less were excluded.

Question 3

1872 Ballot Act

Answer 3

This ensured that votes could no longer be bought by candidates and voters are free to make up their own minds.

Question 4

Third Reform Act 1884

Answer 4

Franchise is extended to most
working men. About 60% of all adults (over 21) have the right to vote.

Question 5

Representation of the
People Act 1918

Answer 5

Most adult men are given the
right to vote, plus women over
30 who are either married or a
property owner in their own
right or a graduate.

Question 6

Representation of the
People Act 1918

Answer 6

Most adult men are given the
right to vote, plus women over
30 who are either married or a
property owner in their own
right or a graduate.

Question 7

Representation of the People
Act (Equal Franchise Act) 1928

Answer 7

This extends the franchise to all
adults over 21, including
women.

Question 8

Representation of the People Act 1948

Answer 8

‘one person, one vote’ is
now finally established in the UK.

Question 9

Representation of the
People Act 1969

Answer 9

The voting age in the UK is
reduced from 21 to 18.

Question 10

Scottish Elections (Reduction
of Voting Age) Act 2016

Answer 10

2014 - 16- and 17-year-olds
are allowed to vote in the
referendum on Scottish
independence. Under the 2016
Act, this is extended to all
elections in Scotland, but not
to UK general elections or
referendums.

Question 11

Suffrage

Answer 11

the right to vote in free elections

Question 12

Suffragettes

Answer 12

Campaigners
in the early part of
the twentieth century
advocating votes for
women, who used both
parliamentary lobbying
and civil disobedience as
their methods.

Question 13

Suffragists (getting women the vote)

Answer 13

A group that was open to all and was internally democratic,
practising peaceful campaigning to put pressure on those in
power through letter-writing, producing material for publication,
organising petitions and holding peaceful marches and protests.

Question 14

Reasons FOR 16 year olds getting the vote

Answer 14

1. Young people are
   now better informed about politics than ever before.
2. Voting turnout among the 18–24-year-old age group is very
   low - may encourage more people to vote and become
   engaged with politics.
3. The internet and social media now enable young people to
   be better informed about politics.
4. If one is old enough to serve in the army, get married or pay
   tax, one should be old enough to vote.
5. The radicalism of the very young could act as a useful
   balance to the extreme conservatism of elderly voters.