Parliamentary Elections Corrupt Practices Act 1885

The Parliamentary Elections Corrupt Practices Act 1885 (48 & 49 Vict. c. 56) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It became law on 6 August 1885.

It declared, in order to clarify past ambiguities, that it was legal for an employer to allow his employees a reasonable amount of paid time off work in order to vote in a parliamentary election. This permission was, as far as reasonably possible, to be given to all employees, and not to be given in order to induce them to vote for a specific candidate, or refused to discourage them from voting for another.

It did not criminalise any previously legitimate activity.

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