Historically, the right to vote depended on ownership of land. In 1832 the Representation of the People Act (or Reform Act) extended the county franchise and as a result almost doubled the number of men eligible to vote. From this date, all voters had to be recorded in Registers of Parliamentary Electors, giving details of the property ownership which qualified them for inclusion.
In Oxfordshire, the registers start in 1832, and parishes were initially listed in alphabetical order. From 1843-4, the parishes were categorised into polling districts and as the number of eligible voters increased, particularly with the passing of subsequent Acts of Parliament extending the franchise in 1867 and 1884, so the polling districts were reorganised and grew in number, culminating with 23 districts in 1885 before the Registers were reclassified on a broader geographical (and sometimes alphabetical) basis. District councils are now responsible for the compilation of electoral registers.
The City of Oxford was included in the Oxfordshire registers as a polling district until 1887. For Registers of Electors for the City of Oxford, 1836 - present, see also OCA/EL/1-6
For more information on voting qualifications, see The Gibson Guide to Electoral Registers Since 1832.
Catalogued in 2008 with addtions by Alison Smith in 2009, 2012, 2023, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2024.