VOTING 1914-1918

[Guest smitz99]

HI FOLKS

DURING THE WW1 HOW WAS VOTING CARRIED OUT, WITH LOTS OF THE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS AT WAR.

1. DID THEY LOSE THEIR VOTE ?

2. DID THEIR FAMILYS VOTE FOR THEM BY PROXY?

3. WHAT RECORDS EXIST AND WHERE THEY HELD ?

HOPE YOU CAN HELP,

CHEERS MICK

[John_Hartley]

Up until 1918, you had to be present to be able to go and vote. But in that year the law was changed to allow for Absent Voters (as now). In most areas, the Absent Voters List will still exist - probably in either the main Local History Library or the County Records Office.

It's a great source of information about men serving in the forces in that year. The List is by address by so can see where someone was living (and by cross reference to the main voters list, see who else was in the house). Urban areas tend to list the Regiment, battalion and service number of the man, whilst rural areas tend to just list that he is on service.

If you do a forum search on the phrase "absent voters list", you'll find several threads with more info.

John

[Stephen Nulty]

Many of the AVLs are now accessible online. However those made available on Local Authority web sites tend not to include the address of the people on the list. Those which have been transcribed privately often will have the address.

A good example of the latter can be found at

http://www.a.jackson.btinternet.co.uk/avl/

You must also remember that in those days, men had to be 21 to vote, and so any servicemen under that age will not appear on the AVL

Steve

[andrew_jackson]

Just a follow-up to Steve's reply: the btinternet version of the Accrington Pals site isn't being updated. The Accrington 1918 AVL is best seen in its new location at http://www.pals.org.uk/avl/ (with permission from Hyndburn Borough Council!)

Andrew

[Guest smitz99]

HI FOLKS

THANKS FOR YOUR PROMPT REPLY, JOHN ,STEVE AND ANDREW, MY NEXT CHECK IS ESSEX COUNTY RECORDS OFFICE.

WISH ME LUCK.

CHEERS MICK