POLITICS

Patrick Murphy - Watch Dog

The earliest qualification for electors in Pennsylvania, was fixed at a meeting of deputies held at Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, June i8, I776, which decided upon calling a provisional convention for the purpose of forming a new government for the Province. At this election all were allowed to vote who were "Associators, 21 years of age, and had paid a tax or been assessed." The election was held July I5, I776. In the Constitution formed that year, and the first in the State, the right of suffrage was conferred on "every freeman of the full age of 21 years, having resided in the State for the space of one whole year, next before the day of election for representatives, and paid taxes during that time." In the Constitution of 1790, the qualification for electors was practically the same as at present; the voter must be a citizen, of the age of 21, must have resided in the State two years, and paid a State or county tax. This Constitution with an occasional amendment, remained in force until succeeded by that of 1838, in which a radical change was made in the qualification of an elector. What this was, and how it came about I purpose to state in this paper. Papers Read before the Bucks County Historical Society