Freeman (Admission) Act 1763
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1763 c. 15 |
(3 Geo. 3) C A P. XV.
'WHEREAS great Abuses have been committed in making Freemen of Corporations, in order to influence Elections of Members to serve in Parliament, to the great Infringementof the Rights of Freemen of such Corporations, and of the Freedom of Elections:' To prevent such Practices for the future; Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same, That from and after the first Day ofMay one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three, no Person whatsoever claiming as a Freemen to vote at any Election of Members to serve in Parliament, for any City, Town, Port or Borough in England, Wales , and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed , where such Voter's Right of voting is as a Freeman only, shall be admitted to give his Vote at such Election, unless such Person shall have been admitted to the Freedom of such City, Town, Port or Borough, twelve Calendar Months before the first Day of such Election: And if any Person shall presume to give his Vote as a Freeman at any Election of Members to serve in Parliament, contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of this Act, he shall for every such Offence forfeit and pay the Sum of one hundred Pounds to him, her or them who shall inform and sue for the same; and the Vote given by such Person shall be void and of no Effect.
II Persons intitled to their Freedom, by Birth, Marriage, or Servitude, excepted.
II. Provided always, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend to any Person intitled to his Freedom by Birth, Marriage or Servitude, according to the Custom or Usage of such City, Town, Port or Borough.
III Penalty of antedating the Admission of any Freeman, 500 l.
III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Mayor, Bailiff, Sheriff, Town Clerk, or other Officer of any Corporation, or other Person whatsoever, shall wilfully and fraudulently antedate, or cause to be antedated, any Admission of any Freeman, such Mayor, Bailiff, Sheriff, Town Clerk, Officer, or other Person, shall for every such Offence, forfeit and pay...
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