Suffrage Flashcards
What does suffrage/franchise mean and who does not have it
Right to vote in public elections
Excluded peers of HOL, convicted criminals detained in prisons, anyone found guilty within last 5 years of corruption or illegal practises in relation to an election
What are advantages of extended suffrage?
Fairness and equality,
Political literacy
Opportunity to participate
Representation
Making parliament accountable
Expanding of franchise 1800s
Great Reform Act 1832:
Enfranchised all male middle-class property owners (6%), no more ‘rotten boroughs’ with no elections, controlled by patron
Second Reform Act 1867:
Granted votes to occupiers in boroughs (so could rent rather than own)
Third reform act 1884:
Uniform franchise for counties and boroughs in Uk as whole, 2/3 men in whole had vote, 18% of total, plural voting still there, certain men had more than one vote
Extending of franchise 1900s
Representation of the People Act 1918:
All men over 21 could vote no matter their ownership of property, (due to returning from war)
Women over 30 who met property qualifications or whom’s husband did could vote (2/3rd of women)
Equal Franchise Act 1928:
Women have same as men
Representation of the People Act 1969;
Now anyone above 18
Extending of franchise in Scotland and wales
Scotland (2014) (after precedent set by indyref), Wales (2020) both reduced voting age to 16 in Scottish Parliament and Welsh Parliament
