England, Cheshire, Register of Electors - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
Registers have been published annually with few exceptions from 1832 to the present.

Record History
In 1832 the Reform Act created electoral registers. These registers recorded individuals who qualified to vote in the national elections for representation in parliament. The qualifications changed over the years. There were also electoral registers that covered local elections. Boroughs of large cities had their own electoral registers and their own qualifications for being listed in the registers. In 1878 boroughs combined their registers for the national and local elections. Other places combined their registers by 1885. Registration was suspended, and no electoral registers were created during the World Wars: 1916–1917 (1915–1917 for Scotland) and 1940–1944. In the early years, registers covered only about 7 percent of the population. By 1867 they covered about 11 percent. Until 1918 the registers list only men because women were not allowed to vote. Until 1971 the registers listed only those 21 years of age or older.

Why This Record Was Created
Electoral registers were created to determine who could vote. If an individual’s name did not appear in the register, he or she could not vote.

Record Reliability
Since the government required the electoral registers, the reliability of the records would be high with respect to the place of residence and the name of the individual.

Record Description
Most of the registers have been published. Before 1884 they are arranged by polling district and then alphabetically by surname. After 1884 they were arranged by polling district and then by street.

Record Content
The registers are arranged in columns and give the following information:


 * Given name and surname of each voter
 * Place of abode (residence)
 * Nature of qualification (what qualified the individual to be included in the register)
 * Name of property or street
 * Sometimes handwritten notes may have been added, giving such information as who the person voted for, when the voter died, or the removal of the voter.

How to Use the Record
The electoral registers may help you determine the residence of an individual and how long that person lived there. You may also be able to determine your ancestor’s social status and to locate other records in which that person might appear.

Related Web Sites
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Sources of This Collection
“England, Cheshire, register of electors, 1842-1900,” database, FamilySearch; 2009, from Cheshire Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace. "Register of Electors." Record Office, Chester (England). FHL microfilm, 11 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

How to Cite Your Sources
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