Cast your vote

14th December 1918

The Representation of the People Act became law on the 6th February 1918. This statute extended the vote to all men over the age of 21 and to women over the age of 30 if additionally they were landowners over a certain value or graduates of a university. 

Prior to the 1918 Act a man had to be a landowner in order to qualify to vote. Without this change, 40% of those serving in the Armed Forces would be returning home without a say in the election. The Act increased the number of eligible male voters from 5.2 million to 12.9 million. 

The extension of the vote to certain classes of women had been a hard won battle, fought by people like Millicent Fawcett since the 1860s. But the additional requirements placed on women were a burden which was due in part to the War. Because of the number of men who died, women outnumbered the male population by a million. The thought of such a majority was clearly a step too far for Parliament in 1918. 

Millicent lived long enough to witness the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928 when women finally achieved equal franchise with men.