Encyclopedias: Spartacus Educational: Reform of Parliament: Rotten Boroughs

Description: Abstract: A rotten borough was a parliamentary constituency that had declined in size but still had the right to elect members of the House of Commons. Rotten boroughs had very few voters and were under the control of one man, the patron. With just a few individuals with the vote and no secret ballot, it was easy for candidates to buy their way to victory.