RESEARCH: Representation of the People Act 1918 (2)

https://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/the-representation-of-the-people-act-1918-a-democratic-milestone-in-the-uk-and-ireland/
Article published on February 6th 2018.

• Virtually gave the right to vote to all men and some women on 06/02/1918.
• Range of centenary events.
• Arguably one of the most important centenaries in the democratic history of the UK.
• The origins of the vote was to give the vote to all men, not women.
• Great Reform Act 1832 - gave increasing numbers of men the vote.
• Approximately 40% of men couldn't vote before 1914 due to residential and property requirements. (includes the poorest in society; soldiers, sailors and students who move frequently; and men such as adult sons living in their parents' houses)
• 1916 - political consensus for the need for a "solider's vote"
• Fifty years of suffragist and suffragette campaigning meant that the question then had to be asked: what about the women? 
• One million additional women entered the workforce during the war, many in roles formerly perceived to be men’s work. Although militancy stopped at the outbreak of war, women never ceased campaigning behind the scenes.
• 1918 Act - virtually gave the vote to all men over the age of 21, approximately 13 million men.
• Men on active military/naval service in the war were allowed to vote from the age of 19.
• Women did not receive the same terms to vote as men.
• Act gave 8.4 million women the right to vote.
• Women had to be aged 30 or older, and also they (or their husbands) had to qualify for the local government franchise. (occupying either a dwelling-house of any value, or land or premises of a yearly value of not less than £5)
• Women finally achieved the same terms in the Equal Franchise Act 1928.

Website's conclusion:

• Despite its inequalities, the 1918 Act marks a huge milestone in the democratic history of the UK and Ireland for two reasons; universal male suffrage, and gender no longer an automatic a barrier to voting in Parliamentary elections.  The centenary fully deserves celebration, and hopefully given the public interest, by the end of 2018 people will enjoy a better understanding of what the Act actually achieved for both men and women.

In conclusion, I believe this source to be of a valid source as the website is for an established human rights organisation.This article gave me insight into the different terms men and women had, when they were given the vote.

(In the post above, I have noted my findings for further use, all information is from the link at the top of this page.)