Colonel Davies roseto make his promised motion, for a select committee, "to inquire into the Mode of taking the Poll at Elections for Cities and Boroughs." His object, he stated, was to do away, as far as possible, the system of bribery and corruption, of outrage and lawless violence, which frequently prevailed at such elections. Understanding 242 that no opposition was to be made to his motion, he did not think it necessary to enter at any length upon the subject at present; but he might observe, that the measure which he had in view would rest very much upon the same foundation as that of the resolutions or bill proposed by a right hon. gentleman, but with some difference. One objection to the law, as it stood, was, that the voters were confined to one place of polling, except where different booths were established by compact among the candidates. It was well known to those who had been candidates at elections, that there was often a great rush to the place of polling where there was only one, in order to place a favourite candidate high upon the poll as soon as possible, and that such struggles were often made at the risk of life; and he himself would mention an instance during the last election for Coventry, where six hundred and fifty had polled for one candidate, while only thirty had polled for another—the difference arising solely from acts of outrage perpetrated by the supporters of one side. His object was to afford greater facility to the polling, and to put a stop to bribery and treating. For this purpose, some alteration ought to be made in the mode of polling, by appointing a separate booth for every distinct parish, or more than one booth for a parish where it happened to be very populous. It might be proper to consider, whether the polling for cities and boroughs might not be closed in six days, and whether it should not be closed unless a certain number to be specified polled in a day. He felt it unnecessary to make any further suggestions at that time, and concluded by putting his motion as above.
§ Mr. G. Robinsonseconded the motion. He thought that if the House could lessen the expense attending these elections, it would be conferring a great benefit on the country. For the purpose of effecting that object, he wished the electors who resided at a distance from the city or borough contested, to give their votes at the places where they lived. He saw no other mode except this, by which the immense expense attending those elections could be avoided. As to shortening the time for keeping open the poll, he did not approve of it. If the poll were to close, because, on any given day, a certain number of electors did not vote, it might prevent many individuals from expressing 243 their opinion as to the member, who, according to their view, was most worthy to represent them.
The motion was agreed to, and a committee appointed.