Extending the Franchise

What did the 1832 Great Reform Act do?

Gave the vote to middle class men

What did the 1918 Representation of the People’s Act do?

Allowed all men to vote and gave the vote to women over 30 who met the minimum property requirements

What did the 1932 Equal Franchise Act do?

Gave women over 21 the vote

What did the 1969 Representation of the People’s Act do?

Allowed anyone over the age of 18 to vote

Why should voting be made compulsory?

• Will allow people to be educated on politics

• Will result in higher turnout so more representation

• It would enhance democracy

Why shouldn’t voting be made compulsory?

• The public have the right to choose so should not be forced

• It would result in spoiled ballots meaning they lose their weight

• Would question democracy due to citizens being coerced into voting

Why should 16/17 year olds get the vote?

• Gives them a say in issues that directly impact them

• Educates them on politics

• Will encourage the habit of voting from a young age resulting in a higher turnout and enhanced democracy

Why shouldn’t 16/17 year olds get the vote?

• They are more vulnerable to being influenced by radical parties

• May be influced by social media rather than policies

• They haven’t entered the “real world” (they are still in school, can’t marry or drink e.t.c)

Why should prisoners be able to vote?

• It is a civic responsility

• They can have an impact on what will effect them after they have served their time

• May encourage them to find a path when released

Why shouldn’t prisoners get the vote?

• They are locked away so the decisions are unlikely to impact them

• They have broken their contract with society so shouldn’t be able to decide what happens within it

• They have broken the laws and disobeyed society

What pressure groups support giving prisoners the vote?

Howard League and Liberty

When can prisoners vote?

In the UK, prisoners can only vote if they are on day-release on the day of an election. They can however register to vote if in prison

How did the suffragists help to extend the franchise?

• They held public meetings and petitions

• They also spoke to Members of Parliament

• Their less violent approach showed that they would be complient with rules and gave the government no reason to not give women the vote

How did the Suffragettes help to extend the franchise?

• “deeds not words”

• They used more violent and militant ways to gain the vote

• Their lobbying put pressure on the government and showed how desparate women were to get the vote by doing things such as hunger strikes e.t.c