Representation of the people: Franchise extension and the "Sinn Féin election" in Ireland, 1918

Alan de Bromhead, Alan Fernihough and Enda Hargaden

No 2018-08, QUCEH Working Paper Series from Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History

Abstract: Electoral reforms in 1918 nearly tripled the number of people eligible to vote in Ireland. Following the reforms - the largest franchise extensions in UK history - the previously obscure Sinn Féin party secured 73 of Ireland's 105 seats, an outcome that presaged a guerrilla war and ultimately independence from the United Kingdom. This paper examines the relationship between the franchise extension and the election results. We find little evidence of a connection between the two. New female voters appear less likely to have supported Sinn Féin. New male voters were slightly more likely to vote for Sinn Féin, but the magnitude of this effect was small and statistically insignificant. In fact, non-voting appears particularly high for both groups of new voters. Our results suggest that the extension of the franchise cannot explain Sinn Féin's victory. We conclude their electoral success was more likely driven by a change of heart on behalf of the Irish electorate, rather than a change in its composition.

Keywords: Voting; Elections; Ireland; Sinn Féin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 N44 N94 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm, nep-his, nep-knm and nep-pol
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Representation of the People: Franchise Extension and the “Sinn Féin Election” in Ireland, 1918 (2020)
Working Paper: Representation Of The People: Franchise Extension And The "Sinn Féin Election" In Ireland, 1918 (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:qucehw:201808

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