[8][9] The radical John Bright expressed concerns that tenants would face the threat of eviction if they voted against the wishes of their landlord.

It fell to Edward Aldam Leatham, the husband of Bright's sister, to introduce the Ballot Act on leave.

[2] The secret ballot mandated by the Act was first used on 15 August 1872 to re-elect Hugh Childers as MP for Pontefract in a ministerial by-election, following his appointment as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The Ballot Act 1872 was of particular importance in Ireland, as it enabled tenants to vote against the landlord class in parliamentary elections.

The principal result of the Act was seen in the general election of 1880, which marked the end of a landlord interest in both Ireland and Great Britain.