(The following article will discuss – Should 16-Year-Olds Be Allowed to Vote? – Part 2)
The story of voting in England is one of gradual, hard-won change, a centuries-long battle to expand political rights from a privileged few to the wider public. Today’s democratic rights are built on generations of reformers, protestors, and political movements that demanded change.
Medieval and Early Modern Roots
In medieval England, voting existed but only in a limited, elite form. The first recognisable parliament was summoned by Simon de Montfort in 1265, including knights (representing counties and towns). However, voting for Members of Parliament (MPs) was tightly restricted to landowning men, typically the wealthiest in society.
By the 15th century, the Forty Shilling Freeholder rule was formalised (1430), limiting the county vote to men who owned freehold land worth at least 40 shillings per year, still a sizeable sum. Borough voting rules varied wildly, often under the influence of local elites. These tight restrictions created widespread political exclusion.
Rotten Boroughs and Calls for Reform
By the 18th and early 19th centuries, the electoral system had become notoriously corrupt. “Rotten boroughs” like Old Sarum, which had almost no residents, could still return MPs. Meanwhile, fast-growing industrial cities like Manchester had no representation at all.
Widespread frustration led to growing demands for reform, fuelled by radical political movements, industrialisation, and working-class activism.
The Reform Acts
1832 – The Great Reform Act:
This was the first major breakthrough. It abolished many rotten boroughs, created new constituencies, and extended the vote to more middle-class men, those who owned or rented property worth £10 or more annually. Around 1 in 5 adult men in England could now vote, but the vast majority, including all women, remained disenfranchised.
1867 – Second Reform Act:
Extended the vote further to many urban working men. The electorate doubled, but it still excluded agricultural workers.
1884 – Third Reform Act:
Brought rural areas in line with towns, enfranchising many agricultural labourers. By now, around 60% of adult men in England could vote.
1918 – Representation of the People Act:
A watershed moment. This act granted the vote to all men over 21 and women over 30 who met minimum property qualifications. It was both a recognition of wartime sacrifice and years of suffragette and suffragist campaigning.
1928 – Equal Franchise Act:
Full voting equality: all women over 21 could vote, regardless of property or marital status. Women now had the vote on the same terms as men.
1969 – Voting age lowered to 18:
Reflecting changing social attitudes, the voting age was reduced for all adults to 18, making millions of young people eligible.
Electoral Reform and Challenges Today
England now operates under a universal suffrage system, but the debate around electoral reform continues particularly the question of whether to replace the First Past the Post system with proportional representation.
Issues of voter ID requirements, political disengagement, and unequal representation remain hot topics. While today’s democracy is far more inclusive than that of the past, its evolution remains an ongoing process.
Key Milestones Timeline (England):
- 1430: Forty Shilling Freeholder rule formalised
- 1832: Great Reform Act
- 1867: Second Reform Act
- 1884: Third Reform Act
- 1918: Votes for all men 21+, women 30+ (with property)
- 1928: Equal franchise for women
- 1969: Voting age lowered to 18
The next article will explore and discuss: –
Should 16-Year-Olds Be Allowed to Vote? – to whet your appetite
The debate over lowering the voting age to 16 continues to divide opinion in England. Supporters argue that 16-year-olds can work, pay taxes, and join the armed forces, so they should have a say in how the country is run. They also highlight the success of youth turnout in Scotland, where 16 and 17-year-olds voted in the 2014 independence referendum. Giving young people the vote, they say, can help establish lifelong democratic engagement.
Critics, however, question whether most 16-year-olds have enough political maturity or knowledge to make informed decisions. Some fear their votes could be easily influenced by peers, parents, or social media. Others argue that voting should come with full adult responsibilities, which still begin at 18 in most areas of life.
The issue remains unresolved, though it continues to feature in discussions about the future of British democracy.
