Much of the growth was result of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which expanded franchise by abolishing property qualifications for men and introduced female suffrage for some women over the age of 30.
Changes in parliamentary franchise from 1885 to 1918 in the United Kingdom were the result of centuries of development in different kinds of constituencies.
Some of the older boroughs were still affected by the different franchises that had applied to them before 1832 (see the Unreformed House of Commons for details of the position before the Reform Act 1832).
The contents of the section on the parliamentary franchise below, are taken from The Constitutional Year Book 1900, a publication issued by Conservative Central Office in 1900 and thus out of copyright.
Note that the local government franchise was different; in particular, single women ratepayers could vote in municipal elections from 1869 following the Municipal Franchise Act 1869, confirmed and extended to some married women by the Local Government Act 1894.
[citation needed] The increase in Ireland between 1880 and 1885 was particularly significant, as the Irish county franchise was brought into line with that in Great Britain.
[citation needed] The January 1910 and December 1910 general elections were fought on the same register, except in Scotland.
[citation needed] The table below provides figures (taken from Parliamentary Papers in 1886 and 1902) for those qualified by various franchises, in England and Wales, after the 1884 reforms and again in 1902.
[citation needed] The available figures suggest that the 1885-1918 electorate comprised about sixty per cent of the adult male population.
[citation needed] The following are the classes of persons who, being males of full age, are entitled to be registered, and when registered to vote at Parliamentary Elections, provided they are not under any legal incapacity, such as alienage or conviction for corrupt practices, and have not within 12 months preceding 15 July received parochial relief (other than medical relief) or other disqualifying alms:-1.
(2) Persons possessed of a freehold estate for life or lives in land or tenements of the annual value of 40s.
Persons possessed of a freehold estate for life or lives in lands or tenements of the clear yearly value of £5.
A freehold situate in a Parliamentary borough qualifies the owner for the county vote, unless it is in his own occupation.
(c) LEASEHOLDERS:- Lessees, their assignees, and sub-lessees (if in actual occupation) of a term originally created for not less than 60 years, of the value of £5 per annum.
Note - The word "tenement" includes a warehouse, counting-house, shop, or any part of a house separately occupied for the purpose of any business, trade or profession.
- Only two joint occupiers under the £10 qualification can be registered, unless they derive the property by inheritance, marriage, or will, or are bona-fide engaged in carrying on business as partners.
(b) HOUSEHOLDERS:- The inhabitant occupier as owner or tenant for 12 months preceding 15 July in any year of any dwelling-house within the county.
A man does not lose his vote by letting his house furnished during a part of the qualifying period not exceeding 4 months in the whole.
The overseers are bound to place the names of all such upon the rate-book as inhabitant householders, notwithstanding that the rent or rates may be paid by their employer.
If the owner is liable for the rates, and has not paid them, the tenant may pay them, and deduct the amount from the rent.
Wherever the landlord pays the rates, the overseers are bound to insert the occupier's name in the rate-book.
- The names of qualified householders and occupiers must be placed by the overseers on the list published by them on 1 August.
Persons possessing rights permanently or temporarily reserved by the Reform Act of 1832, such as (1) Freeholders and burgage tenants in cities and towns which are counties of themselves; e.g., Bristol, Exeter, Norwich, and Nottingham.
Note - The word "tenement" includes a warehouse, counting-house, shop, or any part of a house separately occupied for the purpose of any business, trade or profession.
(b) HOUSEHOLDERS:- The inhabitant occupier as owner or tenant for 12 months preceding 15 July in any year of any dwelling-house within the borough.
A man does not lose his vote by letting his house furnished during a part of the qualifying period not exceeding 4 months in the whole.
The overseers are bound to place the names of all such upon the rate-book as inhabitant householders, notwithstanding that the rent or rates may be paid by their employer.
If the owner is liable for the rates, and has not paid them, the tenant may pay them, and deduct the amount from the rent.
Wherever the landlord pays the rates, the overseers are bound to insert the occupier's name in the rate-book.