1872 Pontefract by-election
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The 1872 Pontefract by-election was fought on 15 August 1872. The ministerial by-election was fought due to the incumbent Liberal MP, Hugh Childers, becoming Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Paymaster General. It was retained by Childers.
It was the first UK Parliamentary election that was held by secret ballot held shortly after the Ballot Act of 1872 ended the old practice of open voting had come into effect. There was considerable interest in the outcome, many observers[who?] believing that support for the rival politicians might be drastically different as voters were able to make their choice in secret. However, the election results were reflective of the political preference of the constituency prior to the Ballot Act. One of the main arguments made in support of voting by ballot was that it would put a stop to the riots and disorders so prevalent at previous elections. The Pontefract election conclusively proved that secret voting reduced riotous behaviour. Hugh Childers was re-elected on 15 August 1872 following his appointment as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
The Pontefract museum holds the original ballot box, sealed in wax with a Pontefract cake liquorice stamp.[1]
Results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh Childers | Liberal Party | 658 | 53.24 | |
| John Horace Savile, 5th Earl of Mexborough | Conservative Party | 578 | 46.76 | |
| Total | 1,236 | 100.00 | ||
| Total votes | 1,236 | – | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 1,941 | 63.68 | ||
| Source: [2] | ||||
References
- ^ Pontefract's secret ballot box, 1872. BBC: A History of the World. Retrieved 19 May 2014
- ^ Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
   | This article about a by-election to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in England is a stub. You can help Wik.ipedia.Pro by expanding it. |
- 1872 elections in the United Kingdom
- 1872 in England
- 19th century in Yorkshire
- August 1872 events
- Pontefract
- Elections in Wakefield
- By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in West Yorkshire constituencies
- Ministerial by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom
- By-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom in English constituency stubs
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