London Electoral Registers 1835-1965 - ancestry

[kiterunner]

Just discovered that it doesn't seem to cover anything before 1847 although the title says 1835. (Not much help with my 3xg-grandfather who died in 1845!)

[Merry]

I can't think of anyone to look for

[kiterunner]

Well, don't worry because Dorset should be along soon.

[kiterunner]

Also you can look for famous (or infamous) people!

[Lynn the Forest Fan]

Originally Posted by Asa

Lynn, this is from the info on Ancestry - About London, England, Electoral Registers, 1835-1965

This database contains annual lists of names and residences of people in London who were eligible to vote in elections.

Historical Background

Electoral registers are lists of individuals who are eligible to vote during the time the register is in force (usually one year). Registration for voters in England has been required since 1832, and registers were typically published annually, though some years had two. Registers were not published during the latter years of World War 1 (1916–1917) or World War 2 (1940–1944).

Restrictive property requirements denied the vote to much of the population for years, though these were eased somewhat in 1867 and 1884 through the Second and Third Reform Acts. They were finally removed, for men, in 1918, when most males age 21 and older were allowed to vote. The franchise was extended to some women over the age of 30 in 1918, but it was not until 1928 that the voting age was made 21 for both men and women.

Thus, the number of names listed in the registers increases with the expansion of suffrage in England, and the 2 million images in this database list more than 100 million names.

Searching the Registers

Registers typically provide a name and place of abode, and older registers may include a description of property and qualifications to vote. Registers were compiled at a local level, with local polling districts being combined to form parliamentary constituencies. Names in registers published before 1918 are often arranged alphabetically within the polling district or parish. From 1918 onward, however, registers are organized by polling district and then street name and house number. In the past, this made knowing where your ancestor lived vital for researching in the registers. The registers in this database have been indexed electronically, however, which allows you to search them by name.

Thank you Asa

[kiterunner]

Some women are actually listed pre-1918 because they could vote in local elections if they qualified (e.g. as the householder). I've found my g-grandfather's first "wife" listed in 1904 at the address where they were living on the 1901 census, so I guess that means that they split up between 1901 and 1904.

[kiterunner]

Originally Posted by Sue from Southend

I can't view any images It keeps crashing - how do I find the old viewer, assuming that that's the problem ' cos I'm not aware that I had a new one

When you have the viewing page up, there should be an "Options" button near the top which you can click on and select to use the Standard viewer.

[Mary from Italy]

What a brilliant resource.

The abbreviations are explained here, if anyone needs them:

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/...dington.1937.3

[Lynn the Forest Fan]

I clicked on your link Mary but got taken to the "subscribe" page

[Mary from Italy]

Oh sorry, that's taken from the beginning of one of the rolls, and presumably only available to Ancestry members.
They'll apply to the earlier registers, when you had to own property or similar to be able to vote.

Quick summary:

Men

R = Residence qualification
B = Business premises qualification
O = Occupation qualification
D = Qualification through wife's occupation
NM = Naval or military voter

Women

Rw = Residence qualification
Bw = Business premises qualification
Ow = Occupation qualification
Dw = Qualification through husband's occupation
NM = Naval or military voter

J = juror
SJ = special juror

a = absent voters