Voting

1920s case study

The 1920s saw Britain's political system become fully democratic. The decade saw the first Labour government, the first women politicians, the first party political radio broadcasts and politicians taking mass public opinion into account.

Until the 1920s large numbers of people could not vote. Under the 1884 Representation of the People Act, the right to vote excluded men owning or renting property worth less than £10, and all women. The 1918 Representation of the People Act enfranchised all men over 21 and all women over 30.

The 1918 Act increased the electorate from 7.5 million to 20 million people. Women finally achieved equal suffrage with men when the 1928 Act enfranchised all women over 21.

2003 case study

Voting today

59.4% of registered voters voted in the 2001 general election, the lowest turnout since the post-war election in 1918. Turnout among 18-24 year olds may have been as low as 39%. Britain is not alone - reduced voter turnout is common among other world democracies.

In the UK people must be 18 years old to vote. In July 2003 the Electoral Commission, which advises the government on electoral reform, announced that it will investigate whether the voting age should be lowered to 16. According to a MORI poll, 53% of young people aged 11-18 surveyed wanted the voting age lowered to 16 or below. However, 45% said that they were not interested in learning how the British political system works.