Liverpool Town Council elections


Liverpool Town Council existed from 1835 to 1880.
Liverpool Town Council was established by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, replacing the Liverpool Common Council which was first established under the Charter of King John in 1207. Records for the Common Council go back to 1550. In 1835, Sixteen wards were established, each of which elected three councillors for a three-year term. One-third of the councillors were elected each year in a three-year cycle. The councillors were elected by male ratepayers. The franchise was extended throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition there were 16 aldermen, who were elected by the council and had the same voting rights as the elected councillors. Liverpool Town Council became Liverpool City Council when Liverpool was awarded city status on 12 May 1880.
The municipal year ran from the date of the Council's Annual General Meeting, until 8 November the following year.

Electorate

The increase in the numbers of electors is due to the increasing population and the widening of the franchise.

Council elections

Polling arrangements

The franchise was based on rates paid, some electors had several votes depending on the number of properties for which they paid rates.
Polling took place on the first of November, except when this fell on a Sunday, in which case it was moved to Monday, the second of November. This continued from 1835 to 1948, when the Representation of the People Act 1948 changed election day to the first Thursday in May.
An Alderman was appointed by the Council as the Returning officer for each of the wards and two assessors.
Polling began at 9 a.m. and ran until 4 p.m., but the Presiding Officers had the power to close the poll at any time before four o'clock, if an hour had elapsed during which no votes were cast. Even when a candidate was unopposed, the polls were opened. Usually a very small number of votes were cast and the polling was closed early.
Treating was common until it was criminalised by the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act 1883.
There was usually one polling place in each ward. Locations used included private houses, shops, coffee houses and public houses.

Declaration on taking office

Section 50 of the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 required that a Councillor, on taking office, make the following declaration "be made and subscribed before any two Aldermen or Councillors."
"I do solemnly and sincerely, in the presence of God, profess, testify, and declare upon the true faith of a Christian, that I will never exercise any power, authority, or influence, which I may possess by virtue of the office of, to injure or weaken the Protestant Church, as it is by law established in England and to disturb the said Church, or the Bishops and Clergy of the said Church, in the possession of any right or privileges to which such Church, or the said Bishops and Clergy, are or may be by law enacted."

Aldermanic elections

There were sixteen aldermen elected by the Town Council. In 1835 all sixteen were elected, eight for a term of three years and eight for a term of six years. Thereafter, eight were elected every third year for a term of six years.
The Aldermanic election was held at the first Council meeting after the annual election of Councillors on 9 November, except when this was a Sunday, in which case it was moved to Monday 10 November.
The election process was for "each member of the Council delivering to the Mayor a piece of paper containing the names, professions and, residences of the parties for whom he votes".
If an alderman resigned, he was fined £50, although as a result of the Bye-law of 9 November 1885 this was reduced to one shilling.

Relevant legislation