Who can vote?

• Who has the right to vote in the UK?

  All British citizens over 18
• Which citizens living in the UK can vote?

  Irish citizens living in the UK
• Who else can vote in the UK besides British and Irish citizens?

  Commonwealth citizens living in the UK
• How long can UK nationals live abroad and still vote?

  Less than 15 years
• What do the terms franchise and suffrage refer to?

  The ability/right to vote in elections
• What was the state of voting from the late Middle Ages to the early 19th century?

  Very few people could vote
• What were the two types of constituencies in the UK?

  Counties and boroughs
• What was required to vote in counties during this period?

  Own property worth at least 90 shillings
• How did voting qualifications vary in boroughs?

  According to local rules
• What issue existed with the distribution of parliamentary seats?

  Not aligned with economic and population developments
• What was plural voting?

  Wealthy men voting in multiple constituencies
• Who was excluded from voting during this period?

  Women, except a few property owners
• How many men were in the electorate by the early 19th century?

  About 400,000 men
• What were the key reforms in the UK voting system from 1832 to 1969?

  1. 1832: Reform Act - Expanded electorate to 650,000 men.
  2. 1867: Second Reform Act - Nearly doubled electorate to 2.5 million men.
  3. 1884: Third Reform Act - Expanded electorate to 5.5 million men.
  4. 1918: Representation of the People Act - Enfranchised 8.4 million women and 5.6 million men.
  5. 1928: Equal Franchise Act - Granted women same rights as men.
  6. 1969: Lowered voting age to 18.
• Which reform was most important in increasing the size of the electorate?

  Reform Act of 1867
• Which reform was most important in creating a fairer franchise?

  Representation of the People Act 1928
• Which reform was the most significant for British democracy?

  Representation of the People Act 1918
• Which group benefited the most from the reforms?

  Working Class
• Which group benefited the least from the reforms?

  Women
• What was the impact of the Representation of the People Act 1918?

  • Extended vote to all men over 21
  • Women over 30 with property qualifications
  • Enfranchised 8.4 million women
  • Enfranchised 5.6 million more men
• What was the significance of the Representation of the People Act 1928?

  • Granted women same voting rights as men
  • Lowered voting age for women to 21
  • Achieved near-universal suffrage
  • Established universal adult suffrage
• What was the proposal for extending the franchise discussed in the study material?

  • Lowering the voting age to 16
  • Group work to rank arguments
  • Produce a poster presentation
• What is the homework assignment mentioned in the study material?

  Complete homework booklets p3-6