Mr. Elphin-stonemoved the second reading the Bill, for limiting the duration of the Poll at elections which contained only two enacting clauses; viz.; on the limiting the poll at elections to one day in counties; and the second for effecting the same purpose in boroughs. The experience of the general elections since 1832, sufficiently proved that all the freeholders in the most extensive counties could be polled in one day, inasmuch as no less than 1,000 voters had been taken in that time atone, booth, whilst the average number which it would be necessary to take would only be 600. At the general election in 1832, three-fourths of the electors polled in one day. Taking ten of the largest counties, he found that out of 44,561, persons who voted, 37,075 voted on the first day. The results of the boroughs, in the elections was still more favourable to his view, and he therefore could have no doubt that it was feasible to take all the polls in one day. The chief object of his Bill was to defeat the intentions and wishes of those who, by holding their votes till the second day, expected to obtain a bribe after the struggle had commenced.
§ Mr. Ewartsaid, the practicability of the Bill was shown clearly on the evidence given by the town-clerk of the borough he represented, both before the Corporation Commissioners and the Committee of the House on the subject of election proceedings. The number of electors in Liverpool exceeded 11,000, and the officer to whose testimony he referred proved that the poll there could easily be taken 525 in one day. He had great pleasure in seconding the Motion.
§ The Attorney-Generaldid not rise to oppose the second reading, though be doubted the expediency at the present moment of proceeding with this single measure. It could not be forgotten that the hon. Member for Middlesex, the chairman of the Committee which had recommended this and other measures of large importance for completing the machinery of the Reform Act, had given notice of a Bill having a similar object to the present. Besides this, nothing could be easier than to include all the details and provisions of this Bill in the Registration Bill which had been introduced by his noble Friend the Secretary for the Home Department. His only anxiety was to prevent the confusion which might arise from so much legislation on the same subject. One general act might comprise all these details, and approving, as he did entirely, of the principle of this Bill, he should not oppose its second reading, in the hope that the hon. Member for Hastings would postpone its future progress until the other measures to which he had adverted were fully before the House.
§ Mr. William Duncombealso thought that the Bill might be embodied in one of those before, or about to be before, the House, especially in that Bill for the better registration of voters. He had great doubts as to the policy of limiting the poll to one day only, particularly in counties. It was extremely questionable whether all the electors could be brought up to the poll in one day in wide and populous districts, like the one he had the honour to represent. Under these circumstances it would be advantageous, in large districts, to allow the poll to remain open for the same period as at present.
§ Mr. Bainessaid, that in the West Riding of Yorkshire there were 7,000 voters. On a late occasion the total number polled was 16,000, of whom 13,000 were polled in one day. He was assured that double that number could with perfect convenience have polled in the same time. It would be a great benefit to the country to have the elections take place in one day, for, generally speaking, corruption took place on the night between the two days of polling.
§ Mr. Aglionbyconcurred in the observations of the learned Attorney-General and thought that if more general measures 526 on the subject were not proceeded with, the present one might be carried into effect. If polling were to be limited to one day there should be a more speedy mode adopted than the present one of taking the poll.
§ Dr. Bowringapproved of the principle of the Bill. It would be a great improvement of the law; and, wishing to see its provisions extended to Scotland, he should, when it got into Committee, move the omission of the Clause restricting its operation to England.
The Lord-Advocateconcurred in the propriety of extending the provisions of this bill to Scotland, but thought that it would be necessary in that case to provide some remedy to prevent the tendering of unnecessary oaths for the mere purpose of creating delay. He thought that the best mode of preventing such a trick would be to introduce into the bill a clause providing that if at 4 o'clock, when the poll now closed, there were any electors unpolled who wished to poll, they should give in their names immediately to the returning officer, and that the poll should be kept open the next day till they were all polled.
§ Colonel Sibthorpopposed the Bill. Ill health, bad weather, and many other circumstances which it would be tedious to enumerate, might prevent an elector from voting on the first day of the poll, and therefore, in his opinion a second day ought to be allowed.
§ Lord Morpethgave his cordial support to the Bill. He had just returned from the election in Yorkshire, at which a greater number of votes had been polled than at any other election which had taken place under the Reform Bill, and he knew that in one of the most populous districts, at which he happened to be, at 1 o'clock on the first day of the poll, a large majority of the electors had polled by that hour. Indeed, the chief business of the day was then over, as not more than 5 or 6 electors afterwards straggled in. That circumstance proved that it would be as satisfactory to the electors as to the elected to have the poll terminated in one day.
§ Mr. Warburtonthought that it would be most desirable to secure the passing of this Bill in the present session, as it was impossible to tell how soon they might be seat back to their constituents.
§ The Attorney-Generalwished not to be misunderstood. No one was more desi- 527 ous than himself that this enactment should pass in the present session, and it was only in the hope that it would form part of another bill already before the House that he had wished all further proceedings to be postponed for the present. If the bill to which he had alluded should be in any danger, he would willingly support the present measure.
§ Mr. Blackstoneentirely agreed that it was desirable to have the poll taken in a single day, for a second day only tended to encourage bribery.
§ Mr. Cayleyalso concurred in the opinion that the second day afforded a decided advantage to the candidate who had the longest purse, and, therefore, he should give this Bill his support.
§ Mr. Peasethought that voters should be-allowed to vote where they resided, and not where their property was situate. He agreed that this Bill would be a great improvement.
Mr. O'Connellsupported the Motion, and hoped that the good example it would set for England would be extended to Ireland.
§ Mr. Hardyalso supported the Motion. In his view of the subject the poll should proceed without interruption. Any objection taken to a voter might be made at the time when the vote was given, and heard afterwards, when the only question which could be raised would be as to the identity of the person to whom the objection was made.
§ Motion agreed to, and Bill read a second time.