Although we live in a democracy and have the right to vote, this is not always reflected in the turnout at elections.  In the past people fought and protested to gain this right and your vote is the most direct way available to you to influence the way in which your country and your local council is run.

Voting in local elections decides who serves on the council and who controls it, as elected members are responsible for both the budget and the provision of services.  

In early times two knights from each shire or county were elected by members of the local county courts to be sent to the Commons.  In later years they were joined in the Commons by two representatives from each borough or town.

By 1430 only owners of freehold land generating an income of over forty shillings a year were eligible to vote in county elections.  In the boroughs, qualification varied from each male head of household to those paying local taxes or to those who possessed property.  

In 1800 you had to meet two criteria to be able to vote – you had to be male and you had to be wealthy.  This meant that less than 3% of the adult population was eligible to vote.

Thankfully things have changed significantly since then and there have been some major changes to the regulations which govern our right to vote.

The 1832 Reform Act extended the right to vote to include certain leaseholders and householders.  This gave 5% of adults a vote.

The 1867 Second Reform Act went further, although it was still based upon wealth, and extended the voting regulations in counties and boroughs allowing 13% of adults to vote.

The 1872 Secret Ballot Act brought about voting by secret ballot.

The 1884 Representation of the People Act enabled any man who occupied property or land with an annual rateable value of £10 to vote.

Now 24% of adults could vote.

The 1918 Representation of the People Act allowed all men over the age of 21 to vote.  Women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote and women could sit in the House of Commons as MPs. 75% of adults could now vote.

The 1928 Representation of the People Act gave women the same voting rights as men, allowing all adults over the age of 21 to vote.

The 1969 Representation of the People Act lowered the voting age for all men and women to 18 years of age.

The 1985 Representation of the People Act allowed voters who were abroad, either working or on holiday, at the time of an election, to apply for a postal vote.

The 2000 Representation of the People Act brought about changes to electoral registration by the introduction of rolling registration.  It also extended the rights of those who wished to vote by post by allowing postal voting upon demand and for an indefinite period, without qualification.