Electoral Rolls
The National Archive of Scotland, located in central Edinburgh, is responsible for the custody and preservation of the records of government in Scotland. It also holds a wide range of church, business and family records.
A poll book is a list of people who actually voted including detail of how they voted. Poll books were in use from the early 1600s and are very rare. In 1872, the Secret Ballot Act and the Electoral Roll were introduced.
Polling districts can sometimes include several parishes; therefore do not confuse the polling district with the parish. In addition, local government and federal government polling districts may differ. As the population grew, polling districts changed. An ancestor’s polling district may change over time although he did not move house.
Valuation rolls: From 1855, an annual system of uniform valuation of houses was introduced showing the address, names of proprietor, tenant and occupier and its value. Unfortunately, the names of the occupier did not need to be shown when the annual rent was less than £4. This would have included most miners. Nevertheless, finding the name of the owner of a row of cottages could indicate the company owing the Pit.
A poll book is a list of people who actually voted including detail of how they voted. Poll books were in use from the early 1600s and are very rare. In 1872, the Secret Ballot Act and the Electoral Roll were introduced.
Polling districts can sometimes include several parishes; therefore do not confuse the polling district with the parish. In addition, local government and federal government polling districts may differ. As the population grew, polling districts changed. An ancestor’s polling district may change over time although he did not move house.
- Electoral Rolls were not produced during parts of World War I and World War II.
- Women were eligible to vote in 1928.
- Electoral Rolls were sometimes used to select people for jury duty.
Valuation rolls: From 1855, an annual system of uniform valuation of houses was introduced showing the address, names of proprietor, tenant and occupier and its value. Unfortunately, the names of the occupier did not need to be shown when the annual rent was less than £4. This would have included most miners. Nevertheless, finding the name of the owner of a row of cottages could indicate the company owing the Pit.