Electoral Records

History

In 1832 the Great Reform Act introduced electoral rolls.

Before this date Poll books were produced locally to register electors with only about one in fifty people eligible to vote.

Even after 1832 this figure only rose to one in seven people.

Initially the electoral registers contained only a percentage of adults names listed but with successive reforms more names were added until 1928 when everyone over 21 was entitled to vote.

Women had only been added in 1918.

In 1969 the voting age was lowered to 18 years of age.

What can you find in Electoral Registers

Christian and Surnames of people entitled to vote

Addresses

Their voting entitlement

Electoral reference number

Normally electoral rolls are printed in street order so members of a family or people living in the same house will be listed together.

Electoral Registers are compiled annually during November so they provide a more regular picture of peoples movements than the 10 Yearly census.

Where would you find Electoral Registers?

County Records Offices and Libraries hold old copies of electoral registers.

Current copies can normally be found at Council Offices and libraries.

The British Library holds a copy of every electoral registers.

Private companies market copies of electoral registers on CD although these are usually quite expensive.