Extending the Franchise

What are the origins of democracy associated with?

The Magna Carta (1215)

How did the Petition of Rights (1628) come about?

Parliament began to assert the right to protect the liberties of the English people against the increasingly autocratic Stuart monarchy.

What did the Petition of Rights mean?

The Crown is not above the law. Parliament asserted its right to be the primary law maker against the kings belief in the divine right of the king to rule alone.

What did the great reform act of 1832 do?

It enfranchised some members of the middle classes.

What did the Reform act of 1867 and 1884 do?

Increasingly opened the vote to working class householders in the boroughs and then the counties.

What did the 1872 Ballot act do?

Made voting in secret compulsory

What did the Representation of the people act in 1918 do?

Recognised the war effort of women (80,000 served as non-combat in the armed forces) allowed all men aged 21 and over and women aged 30 and over who fulfilled property qualification to vote.

What did the representation of the people in 1928 do?

Extended the vote to men and women aged 21 and over, establishing universal suffrage.

What did the Representation of the people act in 1969 do?

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Give the for arguments of allowing 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote

Scottish independence shows huge engagement from this age group -75% voted,

can already vote in scottish and welsh parliament,

compound the problem of youth apathy as 18-24 year old turnout is low,

encourage people to take duties as citizens earlier,

2002 introduction of citizenship lessons in curriculum means more educated,

they can already exercise significant responsibility.

Give the arguments against allowing 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote

Have few adult experiences,

more likely to be manipulated,

beware of imposing adult responsibilities on children,

very few countries allow voting at 16,

not responsible enough to buy alcohol or cigarettes,

still in full or part time education so they don’t have the same stake in society as those who are older

What does the European Court of Human Rights say about the disenfranchisement of prisoners

“The blanket ban on all prisoners from voting was a violation of their human rights”

Give the arguments for allowing prisoners the vote

Denying the vote will make it harder to rehabilitate criminals,

losing the right to vote is not a deterrent,

the right to vote is fundamental and cannot be removed,

removal of vote makes them a non-person and alienates them from society.

Give the arguments against allowing prisoners the vote

Those who commit crime against society should lose their right to say how society should run,

the right to vote is not fundamental but conditional on an individuals lawful participation within society,

losing the vote can act as a deterrent,

criminals having the vote will undermine the principle of justice,

when scottish prisoners were given the right to vote it generated very little interest.