Else Churchill gave our final talk of 2019 when she spoke on the subject Electoral records and poll books.
Before the 1832 Reform Act, the franchise was not only very restricted, but the right to vote varied enormously between constituencies, but generally freemen in boroughs and property owners or substantial tenants for the counties. The limited reform of 1832 was followed by further Acts in 1867 and 1884 which extended the vote to male householders. This was followed by Acts in 1918, giving the vote to all men over 21 and women over 30, and 1928 to all women.
Secret ballots were only introduced in 1870. A 1696 Act required poll books to be kept and published, showing who had voted and for whom. Unfortunately it did not stop intimidation of voters as intended! Many of these books survive and can be an invaluable source for finding ancestors up to 1868. Whilst they do not give relationships, they may give occupations, as well as parishes or, later, addresses, and qualification to vote. As well as poll books, electoral rolls, kept from 1832 can be very useful for family research.
Else recommended the Gibson Guides for more information. The largest collection of poll books is at the Society of Genealogists. Electoral rolls may be found in local record offices, along with lists of jurors, who were also determined by property qualifications-in quarter sessions records. Some poll books and electoral registers have been digitised and indexed, along with some Absent Voter lists for 1918 servicemen. Only from 2003 have electoral registers been edited, on request, to exclude personal information.
Report by Michael Lucas
Next Meeting
Christmas Party and Celebration of Thanet Branch
Private meeting for Members who have booked in advance by 30 November.
You can contact Michael Lucas, Thanet Branch Chairman by Email
Future of Thanet Branch
As previously advised, Thanet branch will cease to hold meetings from November 2019. The Executive Committee of the Society would like to keep the branch open and welcome ideas about how this may be achieved. It maybe that a change of venue or a different day or time of day will be required. If you would like to offer your help or suggest ideas, without obligation, regarding how Thanet branch may continue to meet please contact David Wood Chairman of Kent Family History Society. Email