Democracy and Participation - Topic 1.2

Question 1

Who could vote following the Great Reform Acts of 1832, ‘67 and ‘84?

Answer 1

• 1832 - Some members of the middle class were enfranchised
• 1867 & ‘84 - Increased the vote for working-class households in the boroughs and then counties

Question 2

How did the Ballot Act of 1872 change voting in the UK?

Answer 2

Voting secretly was made compulsory for all elections, protecting citizens’ right to vote in any way they wished.

Question 3

Who could vote following the Representation of the Peoples Act of 1918?

Answer 3

All men over the age of 21 and women aged 30 and over who fulfilled a property qualification were allowed to vote in general elections.

Question 4

Who could vote following the Representation of the Peoples Act of 1928?

Answer 4

All men and women over the age of 21 were allowed to vote regardless of property qualifications. Universal suffrage was achieved.

Question 5

Who could vote following the Representation of the Peoples Act of 1969?

Answer 5

All men and women over the age of 18 were allowed to vote in all elections. This was due to recognition of new opportunities and greater freedoms for those younger than 21 in a developing and modernising society.