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Daily Prophet
Daily Prophet
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October 23rd, 1894
Suffrage Bill Passes Wizengamot
Details of Dempsey's Promised Voting Reform
The policy recommendations sent to the Wizengamot this summer regarding suffrage have materialized into a passed bill, sources report. Although the legislative process is not completely finalized, approval of the Wizengamot is typically the last major hurdle for incoming laws; it is expected that Dempsey's voting reform will take effect prior to the next election cycle.
The bill proposes a "voting registration" moving forward, rather than the previous system of presumed eligibility based on a voter's demographic. Citizens are eligible to register for the vote provided they are citizens or long-term residents of Britain (using the same criteria as currently established) and can demonstrate that they are contributing members of wizarding society. The latter can be demonstrated by owning property, owning a qualifying business or trade, or by having been employed at least six months and having the recommendation of one's employer.
A representative for the Ministry did indicate that anyone who had previously voted in an election in Britain would be grandfathered in to the initial voter's registry, regardless of current eligibility; a procedure which will undoubtedly cost a great deal of time and effort for the Ministry but should make the transition relatively painless for most of the populace.
Minister Dempsey expressed his support for women's suffrage during the election cycle, and this bill does deliver that, although not universally. Generally, women who work or own property should expect to receive the vote. Feminist circles have been agitating for universal suffrage for women for some time, with demonstrations increasing in both frequency and intensity over the past few years. How political activists respond to these changes remains to be seen.
The bill proposes a "voting registration" moving forward, rather than the previous system of presumed eligibility based on a voter's demographic. Citizens are eligible to register for the vote provided they are citizens or long-term residents of Britain (using the same criteria as currently established) and can demonstrate that they are contributing members of wizarding society. The latter can be demonstrated by owning property, owning a qualifying business or trade, or by having been employed at least six months and having the recommendation of one's employer.
A representative for the Ministry did indicate that anyone who had previously voted in an election in Britain would be grandfathered in to the initial voter's registry, regardless of current eligibility; a procedure which will undoubtedly cost a great deal of time and effort for the Ministry but should make the transition relatively painless for most of the populace.
Minister Dempsey expressed his support for women's suffrage during the election cycle, and this bill does deliver that, although not universally. Generally, women who work or own property should expect to receive the vote. Feminist circles have been agitating for universal suffrage for women for some time, with demonstrations increasing in both frequency and intensity over the past few years. How political activists respond to these changes remains to be seen.
Kieran Abernathy