Gladstone's Domestic Second Ministry

• Corrupt Practices Act 1883
• The Franchise Act 1884
• Redistribution of Seats Act 1884
• Brought Britain much closer towards democracy

Corrupt Practices Act 1883:

• Closed the loopholes of the Ballot Act that had allowed corruption to continue
• Candidate's election expenses were set to a specified limit 
• Made clear what campaign money could be spent on
• Election agents had to produce accounts
• Clearly defined illegal and corrupt practices
• Introduced stiff fines and prison sentences for anyone breaking the law
• Politicians now had to win support by promoting better policies

The Franchise Act (1884)

• In the counties, the vote was given to all male householders over 21 and £10 lodgers
• A £10 occupier franchise was created for those living in shops or offices
• The older franchises still applied

Terms of the Redistribution of Seats Act (1885)

• Boroughs with a population of under 15,000 lost both their MPs
• Boroughs with a population under 50,000 lost one MP
• 142 seats were redistributed 

• Real impetus came from Chamberlain
• Part of his strategy to take control of the Liberals 
• Replace its ageing leadership with his own younger, more radical package
• Chamberlain believed that electoral reform could produce more Liberal voters 
• Mainly agricultural labourers and a large number of miners
• No logical argument against extending the franchise
• Gladstone's ministry was running into trouble over Ireland 
• Agreed to electoral reform as a means of wining back popularity

• Franchise reform removed discrimination over voting
• No longer tied to property
• Uniform franchise for both counties boroughs now existed
• Agricultural labourers and miners in rural areas were brought into the voting system
• Electorate doubled from 3 to 6 million out of 35 million
• Redistribution of seats brought an end to the over-representation of the rural areas and under-representation of the industrial towns and cities
• Most constituencies were now single members and equally sized in terms of population
• Fair representation across Britain
• Encouraged parties to improve their organisation and the efficiency of their party machines 
• Modern ystem of electoral representation
• New Irish voters strengthened the home rule fight
• Gladstone's administration achieved little else in terms of reform
• Distracted by crisis abroad and the problems over Ireland
• Gladstone was increasingly difficult to work with