wider franchise and suffrage

• What is suffrage?

  The right to vote in elections
• What does "extending" the franchise mean?

  Increasing the number of eligible voters
• How many people could vote in the early 1800s?

  400,000 people
• What was a problem with voting rules in the early 1800s?

  Wealthy individuals could vote multiple times
• What were "rotten" boroughs?

  Boroughs with few residents having representation
• Why was constituency reform needed?

  Growing cities lacked adequate representation
• Who was excluded from voting before reforms?

  Women and many working-class men
• What were the main Acts of Parliament that contributed to UK suffrage?

  • 1832 Great Reform Act
  • 1918 Representation of the People Act
  • 1928 Representation of the People Act
  • 1969 Representation of the People Act
• What did the 1832 Great Reform Act achieve?

  Abolished many rotten boroughs
• Who gained the vote from the 1832 Great Reform Act?

  Middle-class people and tenant farmers
• What was a limitation of the 1832 Great Reform Act?

  Most working men still could not vote
• What did the 1918 Representation of the People Act accomplish?

  Allowed women over 30 to vote
• Why was the 1918 Act significant?

  It marked the first time women could vote
• What did the 1928 Representation of the People Act do?

  Extended suffrage to all women
• What change did the 1969 Representation of the People Act bring?

  Lowered voting age to 18
• What were the main methods used by Suffragettes and Suffragists?

  Suffragettes:

  • Direct action
  • Militant methods (e.g., arson)

  
  

  Suffragists:

  • Peaceful methods
  • Lobbying and petitions
• How did Suffragettes' methods impact public perception?

  They made their struggle public and criticized the government
• What was a criticism of the Suffragettes' approach?

  They alienated the government with militancy
• What was the Votes at 16 Coalition?

  A group advocating for 16-year-olds to vote
• What is a key argument for allowing votes at 16?

  Young people pay taxes and join the army
• What is a key argument against votes at 16?

  Under 18s lack maturity for decisions
• What happened in 2008 regarding votes at 16?

  A private member’s bill was introduced
• What was the turnout of 16-17 year-olds in the Scottish Independence Referendum?

  75% turnout reported
• How did the turnout of 16-17 year-olds compare to older age groups?

  Higher than 18-24 and 25-34 age groups
• When did the Isle of Man enfranchise 16 and 17-year-olds?

  In 2006
• What trend was observed in voter turnout among 16-17 year-olds in the Isle of Man?

  Turnout decreased from 2006 to 2021
• What did research by Survation find about online voting?

  Two-thirds of non-voters would vote online
• How did Estonia adapt its voting system?

  Allowed online voting with biometric ID
• What issue was highlighted by the Change.org petition regarding the post office scandal?

  570,000 signatures for compensation
• What was the outcome of the 2017 petition against President Trump?

  He visited on business, not a state visit
• What percentage of the public supported prisoner voting in 2015?

  8% believed all prisoners should vote
• What is compulsory voting?

  A measure in 15 democracies worldwide
• What percentage of the British public believes voting is a duty?

  Over 70% agree with that proposition
• What were the key Acts that changed the franchise in the UK?

  • 1832 Great Reform Act: Disenfranchised 56 boroughs, created new constituencies
  • 1867 Representation of the People Act: Gave vote to working-class men
  • 1918 Representation of the People Act: Granted vote to women over 30 and all men over 21
  • 1928 Representation of the People Act: Equal voting rights for men and women at 21
  • 1969 Representation of the People Act: Extended franchise to those over 18