Search Hampshire, Portsmouth Electoral Registers 1841-1915
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Did your ancestors stand on the threshold of democracy, waiting for their chance to be counted and heard? Delve into digitised electoral registers, now searchable for family historians through a partnership with the Portsmouth History Centre. Published annually and spanning 74 years, these records reveal who could vote, where they lived, and how communities evolved. Explore rich historical detail and uncover personal stories hidden within these invaluable directories of the past.
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What can these records tell me?
Explore more than 1.4 million records across Portsmouth. The individual records will include the following facts:
Name
Year
Date
Address
Ward
Place
Archive and reference
We always recommend that you view the original image. The image will give you further details about your ancestor, such as
Type of property owned – this will explain if your ancestor owned or rented land or property (such as a freehold, a farm, or a house)
Electoral Marks
You might find an asterisk or a cross next to your ancestor’s name. An * (asterisk) means that he was not entitled to vote as a Parliamentary Voter in respect of those qualifications listed in the register. He was on the List for voting in respect of another qualification. Wherever the cross mark or + appears against the name of any voter, it means that he or she was not entitled to vote as a Municipal Voter in respect of that qualification. He or she was on the List for voting in respect of another qualification.
Discover more about these records
Preserved at the Portsmouth History Centre, the original registers cover the years 1841 to 1915 and reflect the impact of key electoral laws on voting eligibility. The 1832 Great Reform Act granted the vote to men occupying property with an annual value of £10 or more. The Second Reform Act of 1867 extended the franchise to many urban householders paying £10 or more in rent, while the 1884 Reform Act applied similar £10 household qualifications to rural areas. Together, these records document the gradual expansion of the electorate prior to the wider reforms of the early 20th century.
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