wider franchise & suffrage

franchise overview

• D: the right and ability to engage in politics and vote in an election

• Extending the franchise means increasing the number of people who can vote in elections

problems with the uk franchise

• By the early 1800s, only 400,000 people could vote - constituencies were boroughs or countries

• Rules meant that some wealthy individuals could vote multiple times, but others could not vote at all

• Different boroughs had different rules on who could vote

• Small “rotten” boroughs with few people living there had an MP, but growing industrial cities didn’t have enough representation

• Constituency reform was needed

• Women were excluded, as were many working class men

1832 great reform act

• Many rotten boroughs were abolished, and representation was given to urban areas like Manchester

• In the counties, more people were given the franchise, like tenant farmers

• The Act gave the vote to middle class people in the boroughs, such as small landowners and shopkeepers

• Most working men could not vote still because the Act still required property

1918 representation of the people act

• The Act let women vote in general elections

  • These women had to be married, own property or graduates and had to be 30+

• All men 21+ were given the vote

• The wartime coalition government passed the 1918 Act

• The Act passed partly because of pressure to give the vote to working class men without property who had served their country in the army

1928 representation of the people act

• The 1928 Act was extended suffrage to all women

• The Act was passed under a Conservative government

1969 representation of the people act

• The Act lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 following changing attitudes towards adulthood in the UK

• The Act was passed under a Labour government

suffragettes overview

• Suffragettes such as the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) used direct action and militant methods to show the urgency of women’s suffrage

  • Militant methods included setting fire to buildings, attacking post boxes, and attempting to hurt politicians

• Campaigners were imprisoned for their actions

  • Suffragettes in prison went on hunger strike and were force-fed

  • These actions made their struggle public, and many people criticised the Liberal government

suffragists overview

• Suffragists tried to achieve the vote using peaceful methods, trying to get a bill passed in the House of Parliament

  • Suffragists tried to organise cross-party support and convince and lobby politicians of the importance of female suffrage

  • Suffragists used peaceful demonstrations and gathered support with petitions

  • Suffragists were successful in getting bills to parliament, but none were made into law

debates over women’s suffrage

• Some historians have argued that the Suffragettes were too militant in their actions and actually hindered their cause by alienating the government

  • However, others argue militancy brought publicity and urgency, helping speed up change

• Some historians argue that Suffragists were more effective because they used peaceful methods

  • However, critics say their methods were slow and less effective in forcing immediate political reform

extending the franchise to 16 year olds

• The votes at 16 Coalition is a group run by several different campaign groups, such as the National Union of Students (NUS) and the British Youth Council

• The Labour government’s Representation of the People Bill (2024) proposed votes at 16 for UK Parliament elections; it reached second reading in March 2026, with Conservative opposition

arguments for votes at 16

• Supporters argue that 16-18 year olds can pay income tax and join the army, but are not represented in Parliament

• Young people are taught about citizenship and politics in school, so they may be politically informed

• 16 and 17 year olds have been able to vote in Scottish and Welsh elections, demonstrating that extending the franchise is practical

arguments against votes at 16

• Opponents argue that under 18s are not mature enough to make political decisions

• Youth turnout is usually low in elections, so under 18 turnout isn’t expected to be different