Disfranchising Act 1727

Disfranchising Act 1728
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for the further regulating the Election of Members of Parliament, and preventing the irregular Proceedings of Sheriffs and other Officers in electing and returning such Members.
Citation1 Geo. 2. c. 9 (I)
Dates
Royal assent6 May 1728
Repealed1793
Other legislation
Repealed byRoman Catholic Relief Act 1793
Status: Repealed

The Disfranchising Act was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of Ireland debated in 1727 and enacted in 1728, one of a series of Penal Laws, and prohibited all Roman Catholics from voting in parliamentary elections. Its full title is "An Act for the further regulating the Election of Members of Parliament, and preventing the irregular Proceedings of Sheriffs and other Officers in electing and returning such Members" and its citation is 1 Geo. 2. c. 9 (I). It received royal assent on 6 May 1728.[1]

In the 18th century, elections were held at irregular intervals and at the beginning of a new reign. The Act followed the death of George I on 11 June 1727 but did not take effect until after the election of 1727, coming into force in 1728.

The act was repealed by the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1793, allowing the franchise in Ireland to all men holding a property with a rental value of at least two pounds annually.

  1. ^ J. G. Simms (March 1960). "Irish Catholics and the Parliamentary Franchise, 1692-1728". Irish Historical Studies. 12 (45): 28–37. doi:10.1017/S0021121400019428. JSTOR 30005038. S2CID 163881075.