commonly known as the
PENAL LAWS
STATUTES BY SUBJECT -- ELECTIONS and VOTING RIGHTS
12.001
English Statute 3 Will & Mary c.2
(1691):
An Act for the Abrogating the Oath of Supremacy in Ireland and
Appointing other Oaths
Sec. 5-6. And for as much as great disquiet and many dangerous
attempts have been made to deprive their Majesties of the said Realme of Ireland
by the liberty which the Popish Recusants there have had to sit and vote in
Parliament, no peer of that realm shall vote in the house of peers, nor
shall any member of the house of commons vote or sit during any debate until
he take said oaths and make the following
declaration against transubstantiation.
12.002
English Statute 1 Ann, stat 2, c.21 (1702):
An Act for enlarging the Time for taking the Oath of Abjuration
....
Sec. 10-11. No peer of Ireland nor member of the House of Commons
in that kingdom shall vote or sit during debates until he shall
have taken the said oath
at the same time and manner as directed for making the declaration
by 3 Will & Mary, ch 2. Any who presume to vote not having
taken the said oath, shall incur the penalties in 13 Will. 3,
ch 6, sec 10, viz, shall be adjudged a popish recusant, be disabled
to hold any office or place of profit or trust, civil or military
in any of his Majesty's realms, to sit in Parliament, or sue in
law or equity, or be a guardian or administrator or capable of
any legacy or deed, and for each offence forfeit 500 pounds to
the informer who shall sue for the same, etc.
12.01
2 Ann c.6 (1703):
An Act to prevent the further Growth of Popery
Sec. 24. No papist shall vote for the electing of any person to
serve in Parliament without first taking the oath of allegiance
and the oath of abjuration and
showing a certificate thereof..
12.02
2 Geo I c.19 (1715):
An Act for the more effectual preventing fraudulent conveyances
... for electing members to serve in Parliament; ...
Sec. 7. No papist shall give his vote in the election of knights,
citizens, or burgesses to serve in any parliament, unless he shall
take the oaths of allegiance
and abjuration at least
6 months before the election, and on the election day again, if
required by the sheriff, one of the candidates, or any elector..
And any papist who votes without giving such oaths shall forfeit
100 pounds, one half to his Majesty, one half to the informer.
12.03
1 Geo II c.9 (1727):
An Act for the further regulating the Election of Members of Parliament;
...
Sec. 7. No papist, though not convicted as such, shall be intitled
to vote at the election of any member to serve in parliament,
or at the election of any magistrate for any city or other town
corporate.
12.04
19 Geo II c.11 (1745):
An Act for the better regulating Elections of Members of Parliament
Sec. 4 and 7. Every freeholder before voting, if required by one
of the candidates or other voter, shall take an oath, which includes
the following language: "...I am not a Papist, or married
to a Papist, nor do I educate, or suffer to be educated, any of
my children under the age of fourteen in the popish religion."
A convert may swear that he has not married a popish wife since
his conversion. Any person who swears falsely under this act shall
be liable to the penalties for wilful perjury.
12.041
21 Geo II c.10 (1747):
An Act to amend and make more effectual... an Act for the better
regulating Elections of Members to serve in Parliament ...
Sec. 3. Before voting, every person shall take the following oath:
I, A.B., do solemnly and truly affirm, that I am a freeholder...
of the clear yearly value of 10 pounds, or of 40 shillings (as
the case shall happen to be) ... and that I am not a papist, or
married to a papist, and that I do not educate or suffer to be
educated, any of my children under the age of 14 years in the
popish religion. So help me God.
12.05
21 Geo II c.10 (1747):
An Act to amend and make more effectual ... an Act for the better
regulating Elections of Members to serve in Parliament ...
Sec. 6. Any voter who was papist and has conformed to the Church
of Ireland as by law established and shall tender his vote at
any election for members to serve in parliament, may omit the
words "I am not married to a papist" and substitute
"I was educated in the popish religion, and have conformed
to the Church of Ireland as by law established, and have not since
my conformity married a popish wife".