On This Day, 13 April 1918

Birmingham Daily Post

Saturday 13 April 1918

THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION

THE NEW REGISTER IN BIRMINGHAM

For the new Parliamentary register of voters which must come into force by October 1, ready, if needs be, for a general election in the autumn, the preparations have been made in Birmingham with exceptional thoroughness, and in the opinion of the chief assistant overseer (Mr. J. R. Woodward) the whole of the work will be completed within the specified time.

The qualification period for voters is six months prior to April 15- Monday next. That means that all those men and women who will be deemed qualified for a vote must have been in residence from October 16 last. If since that date there has been a removal from one house to another in Birmingham, or anyone has come into the city to live from an adjacent county or borough, the qualification for successive occupation holds good providing that the person’s removal has taken place within thirty days prior to April 15. If the removal is more recent, then the person will not be entitled to inclusion in the register, the object being to prevent people going specially into a constituency for the purpose only of obtaining a vote.

In Birmingham the number of electors on the last list prepared by the overseers was 192,000, but under the new Act it is estimated that the number will be practically doubled, so that there will be approximately nearly 400,000 voters in the twelve divisions of the city. The city has already been divided into 548 polling districts, about 700 voters on average being allotted to each district, and the work of canvassing for the compilation of the register will begin next week. The overseers this week have been preparing the forms and canvass books for the different poling districts, and the canvassers to the number of about 140 will commence their duties on Monday morning by delivering the forms to about 220,000 householders and occupiers of business premises in the while of the wards. The forms contain specific questions which can easily be understood, and should be answered without difficulty. They must be filled up without delay, and householder are asked to post them, if they have not been called for, within three days to the Registration Officer at the address mentioned on the forms. As soon as they have been collected the papers will be checked, the manuscript for the printers will be prepared, and the lists completed for publication. All this must be done by June 15.

The following persons have prima facie voting qualifications, based on six months’ residence or occupation (with qualifications as to succession) on April 15; 1918: Men, who have attained 21 years, resident in the premises, the occupier to be included if resident. Men (if any) who are 21 and who are occupiers of the premises or any part thereof for the purposes of a business, profession, or trade. (Business premises mean land or other premises of the yearly value of not less than £10). Women over 30 years of age who are occupiers of the premises or any part thereof in their own right. If not a dwelling-house, occupation as owner or tenant or premises valued at £5 is the qualification. Married women over 30 years of age whose husbands are occupiers of the premises or any part thereof. Persons (a) serving in his Majesty’s Forces and (b) serving abroad or afloat in connection with the war (including merchant seamen, pilots or fishermen, as well as men and women serving with the British Red Cross, St. John of Jerusalem Order, or kindred association), who have been, in the case of a man residing on or occupying the premises, or in the case of a woman occupying the premises, but for his or her service. Only men over 19 and women over 30 are qualified for entry. It may be pointed out that there is an impression that only women over 30 years of age are entitled to a vote. This is true, so far as the Parliamentary franchise is concerned, but all women over 21 years of age who occupy premises in their own right will be eligible for entry on the municipal franchise list, and thus will secure votes for municipal purposes.

The last day for making objections is June 29, and the last day for claims is July 5. The list of objections will be published on July 8 and the list of claimants on July 13. The last day for objections to claimants is July 26, and the publication of the list of objections to claimants will take place on the same day or as soon as practicable thereafter.

The new register will be published and come into force on October 1.