1.3: The Franchise (The Vote)

THE FRANCHISE (THE VOTE)

• You will need to be familiar with the history of the vote but probably won't need dates and details, etc. apart from more recent ones for argument's sake.
• AT PRESENT
  • to vote you need to be:
    • over 18
    • registered to vote
  • you can't if you're:
    • mentally incapable
    • a peer (MP I think)
    • a criminal

Around 75% of the population can vote.

• IN THE PAST
  • ability to vote was based on ownership of land
  • generally mainly middle-class men and minority of working-class men

Until the 1830s only 2.7% of the population could vote.

• THE STORY
  • 1832 Great Reform Act - extended the franchise and redistribute seats.…