... small boroughs lost one MP and others gained an MP. These reforms increased the electorate from 653 000 in 1832 to 1 120 000, this was still a poor figure going by a population size out of roughly 30 million people and also the fact that the figure still excluded ALL women. In 1850 voting took place openly and was in no way private. This made bribery, corruption and intimidation easier, which was most certainly not fair on the overall voting results. But, in 1872 Gladstone's Liberal Government passed the secret ballot act. This was particularly effective in areas where voters were very numerous e.g. London. In 1883 corruption and bribery was further targeted with the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Act. This act introduced penalties and punishments e.g. a fine or prison sentence to any candidates who exceeded the set election expenses or offered incentives to voters to vote for them. ...

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