Encyclopedias: Spartacus Educational: Reform of Parliament: 1872 Secret Ballot Act

Description: Absract: After the passage of the 1867 Reform Act, working class males now formed the majority in most borough constituencies. Employers were still able to use their influence in some constituencies because of the open system of voting. Employers and landlords knew how people voted and could punish them if they did not support their preferred candidate. In 1872 this intimidation was removed when the government brought in the Ballot Act which introduced a secret system of voting.