Author Topic: Being Paid for Votes. Gloucester 1881  (Read 696 times)

Offline Barbara1

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Being Paid for Votes. Gloucester 1881
« 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

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Being Paid for Votes. Gloucester 1881
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 10 June 12 21:21 BST (UK) »
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
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Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Being Paid for Votes. Gloucester 1881
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 10 June 12 21:37 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.
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
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Barbara1

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Re: Being Paid for Votes. Gloucester 1881
« Reply #3 on: Monday 11 June 12 17:23 BST (UK) »
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