ABSTRACT
Acustom, well established and almost universally observed in the conduct of election campaigns, is for the candidate to print an address to the electors of the division which he is contesting. In this he states for what causes and policies he stands, makes any reference he may think fit to his own career or capacities, and solicits public support. In some sense this address replaces the actual spoken appeal which used to be made by the candidates at the ‘hustings’. The ceremony called the hustings took place for the last time at the general election in 1868 before the Ballot Act altered the procedure. On the day fixed for nominations the returning-officer received them publicly in the borough or county town. The candidates nominated addressed the populace, very many of whom were not electors, and spirited dialogues often took place. Then the returning-officer put the question to the assembled people and declared it to be carried by acclamation in favour of one or the other candidate or candidates. (In those days double-member constituencies were more numerous.) The defeated party would then call for a poll of all the electors and a date would then be named. It is interesting to note that the presumption seemed to be that the election might be concluded on the day of nomination and the poll was only a last resort. But after the Reform of 1832 elections were contested and taken to a poll in the majority of cases.
