Parliamentary Electoral Registers

Q/D/PV/1-Q/D/PV/137

Parliamentary Electoral Registers

1833-1892

<p>For electoral registers 1893 onwards see County Council list. There is also a complete list of electoral registers, see 'Electoral Registers' catalogue</p>

English

After the Reform Act, 1832 (2 William IV c.45) the Clerk of the Peace prepared registers of electors from lists returned by parish overseers and corrected by revising barristers. The registers were printed and record the surnames and forenames of each voter, his place of abode and the nature of his qualification for the franchise. After the Reform Act of 1832 the franchise was extended to holders of copyhold land worth £40 p.a. and tenants with leases for 20 years or more of property worth £50 p.a. After the Reform Act 1867 those qualified to vote were freeholders, copyholders, and life tenants of property worth £5 p.a. and occupiers of property worth £12 p.a. paying poor rates.

The Reform Act of 1884 gave the vote to all rate payers (owners or tenants of property paying poor rates) and lodgers in lodgings worth £10 p.a. (the latter had applied in boroughs since 1867). The Representation of the People Act, 1918, gave the vote to all men over 21 with a six months residence qualification and to women who were over thirty years of age and were householders. A second vote was allowed to owners of business premises and to university graduates, (this was abolished in 1948). In 1928 women were given equal rights with men. In 1970 the voting age was lowered to 18. Since 1892, after the establishment of the County Council, responsibility for electoral registers has been exercised by the Clerk to the Council or his registration officer.

For electoral registers 1893 onwards see County Council list. There is also a complete list of electoral registers, see 'Electoral Registers' catalogue