Wales, Monmouthshire (Gwent), Electoral Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of ledgers containing the names of men eligible to vote in Parliamentary and/or county elections. Not all persons were eligible to vote for members of Parliament. In the history of suffrage in the United Kingdom the the year 1832 marked a sea change when the Prime Minister, Lord Charles Grey (1764-1845) introduced the Reform Act 1832 (An Act to amend the representation of the people in England and Wales) which changed the electoral system of England and Wales by changing the number of representatives, the boundaries of electoral divisions, and extending franchise to additional men based on their real property ownership or tenancy. As a result of this Act the number of eligible electors grew from just over 400,000 to 650,000 (Phillips, John A., and Charles Wetherell. "The Great Reform Act of 1832 and the Political Modernization of England." The American Historical Review 100, no. 2 (1995): 411-36). A separate, nearly simultaneous act, (Representation of the People (Scotland) Act 1832), changed Scotland's election laws.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * Person's Name
 * Residence

Collection Content
This Historical Records collection does not include volumes 1-9, 1832-1839. These volumes can be accessed through the FamilySearch Catalog record, [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/264446 Great Britain. Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace (Monmouthshire), Electors, 1832-1889].

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the information which has been discovered to find more. For instance, use the age listed in a record to estimate a year of birth, if that has not been found
 * If in the appropriate period, use the information which has been discovered to find the individual in civil records
 * Continue to search the index to identify children, siblings, and parents. Family members often appear on an individual's vital records, such as in the role of witnesses to a marriage

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try variations of given names and surnames
 * Try variations of spelling
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of results which can then be examined for matches
 * Search the records of nearby locations

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Wales.
 * Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Related Collections

 * Great Britain. Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace (Monmouthshire), Electors, 1832-1889

Related FamilySearch Historical Records Collections

 * Wales, Monmouthshire (Gwent) Workhouse Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records
 * Wales, Monmouthshire, Parish Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.