1.2 A Wider Franchise & Su4rage
1.2 A wider franchise and debates over su6rage.
• Key milestones in the widening of the franchise in relation
to class, gender, ethnicity and age, including the 1832
Great Reform Act and the 1918, 1928 and 1969
Representation of the People Acts.
• The work of the su6ragists/su6ragettes to extend the
franchise.
The work of a current movement to extend the franchise.
The Franchise
The Franchise: the right to vote in public elections.
Over the 19th and 20th centuries, Parliament gradually extended the franchise to include
more people across class, gender and age groups.
Þ These reforms made the UK more democratic by ensuring broader political
participation.
Widening the Franchise
Year Act Impact
1832 GREAT REFORM ACT The electorate rose to around
Extended the vote to middle- 800,000
class men owning property
worth £10+
1867 REFORM ACT The electorate doubled to
Extended the vote to urban around 2 million
(factories, mines) working
men
1884 REFORM ACT The electorate rose to around
Extended vote of rural 6 million; 60% of adult men
(agriculture) working men enfranchised
1918 REPRESENTATION OF THE The electorate rose to around
PEOPLE ACT 21 million voters
Extended the vote to all men
aged over 21 and women 30+
with property
1928 EQUAL FRANCHISE ACT The electorate rose to around
Extended the vote to women 26 million voters
on equal terms to men
1969 REPRESENTATION OF THE Added around three million
PEOPLE ACT new voters to the electorate
Lowered voting age to 18
1.2 A wider franchise and debates over su6rage.
• Key milestones in the widening of the franchise in relation
to class, gender, ethnicity and age, including the 1832
Great Reform Act and the 1918, 1928 and 1969
Representation of the People Acts.
• The work of the su6ragists/su6ragettes to extend the
franchise.
The work of a current movement to extend the franchise.
The Franchise
The Franchise: the right to vote in public elections.
Over the 19th and 20th centuries, Parliament gradually extended the franchise to include
more people across class, gender and age groups.
Þ These reforms made the UK more democratic by ensuring broader political
participation.
Widening the Franchise
Year Act Impact
1832 GREAT REFORM ACT The electorate rose to around
Extended the vote to middle- 800,000
class men owning property
worth £10+
1867 REFORM ACT The electorate doubled to
Extended the vote to urban around 2 million
(factories, mines) working
men
1884 REFORM ACT The electorate rose to around
Extended vote of rural 6 million; 60% of adult men
(agriculture) working men enfranchised
1918 REPRESENTATION OF THE The electorate rose to around
PEOPLE ACT 21 million voters
Extended the vote to all men
aged over 21 and women 30+
with property
1928 EQUAL FRANCHISE ACT The electorate rose to around
Extended the vote to women 26 million voters
on equal terms to men
1969 REPRESENTATION OF THE Added around three million
PEOPLE ACT new voters to the electorate
Lowered voting age to 18
