Suffrage Flashcards
Great Reform Act 1832
A limited but symbolically important development. The franchise is extended to new classes of people including shopkeepers and small farmers and anyone whose property attracts a rent of at least £10 per annum. The proportion of the adult population granted the franchise is now nearly %6, a rise from about 4%. Women were not allowed to vote.
Second Reform Act 1867
This Act extends the right to vote again, though it only doubles the electorate to about 2 million. Women, the propertyless and tenants of very cheap properties are excluded.
Ballot Act 1872
This introduces the secret ballot. The main result is that votes can no longer be bought by corrupt candidates and voters are free to make up their own minds.
Third Reform Act 1884
The franchise is extended to most working men. About 60% of all adults (over 21) have the right to vote.
Representation of the People Act 1918
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.
Representation of the People Act (Equal Franchise Act) 1928
This Act extends the franchise to all adults over 21, including women.
Representation of the People Act 1948
Until this Act some universities returned their own MP. This meant some people, who were members of the universities, had two votes - one for the university member and one for the constituency where they lived. So the principle of ‘one person, one vote’ is now finally established in the UK.
Representation of the People Act 1969
The voting age in the UK is reduced from 21 to 18.
Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Act 2016
In 2014, for the first time in UK history, 16-17 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 the UK general elections or referendums.
Elections Act 2022
Government introduced a requirement to show voting ID at polling stations.
