RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Barbara1 on Sunday 10 June 12 21:01 BST (UK)
-
I have come across the following in Gloucester Citizen date 1st Jan 1881
Charles Lewis-Watkins, Union St, received £.1 from the Conservatives and voted for the Conservaties
Also other people have received similar amounts, for the same. Anyone who can enlighten me if this was a regular occurence or info on this.
Did people have to be of a "certain social standing", to vote ?
Any info on the voting system in those days would be great.
Regards
-
The 1867 Reform Act greatly increased the numbers eligible to vote, particularly in the boroughs where the right was given to all householders (owners and tenants) who paid rates and to lodgers in unfurnished accommodation paying at least £ 10 a year. In the counties all males with freehold, copyhold or leasehold property worth at least £5 a year and occupiers of lands or tenements who paid a rent of at least £ 12 a year now became eligible. This gave the vote to about 1,500,000 men. The Municipal Franchise Act 1869 extended the vote in local elections to women who had the necessary property qualification and who were ratepayers. This act also enabled women to serve as Poor Law Guardians. Several suffragists took this opportunity to become involved in local government.
Stan
-
I have come across the following in Gloucester Citizen date 1st Jan 1881
Charles Lewis-Watkins, Union St, received £.1 from the Conservatives and voted for the Conservaties
Also other people have received similar amounts, for the same. Anyone who can enlighten me if this was a regular occurence or info on this.
Regards
It must have been common The Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act 1883 criminalised attempts to bribe voters http://archive.org/details/corruptandilleg00holdgoog
Stan
-
Hi Stan,
Many thanks for the information. I am surprised that my descendant actually was worth enough to earn a £.1 in 1881. I guess a pound in those days was a nice tidy sum though.
I will have to join British Newspaper Archives, t o read the whole article.
Kind regards
Barbara