In this post I'd like to talk about navigating a "common record" set - voters lists - when the population was disenfranchised. There's an assumption in genealogy of "common records." Voters Lists fall in this category, along with censuses, vital records, and city directories. Chinese, Japanese, South Asians, and Indigenous were disenfranchised for decades, meaning that entire record sets that would generally be available for others have gaps for these groups. Knowing when this does and does not apply is important work for a genealogist.
Tag: Electoral Franchise Act
Disenfranchised: Having, losing, and regaining the vote, a quick look at the laws 1872-1948
Come with me as I look at the exact wording of the disenfranchising laws for the Chinese from 1872-1948, including 16 links to finding original Acts and legislation in Canada.
Putting the “British” in British Columbia, or I get the funny feeling you’re trying to tell me something
BC looks at its racist past and decides to say sorry. Vancouver does too.
97 years of history in 6 minutes
Everything you were afraid to ask about the federal laws concerning voting and immigration for the Chinese in Canada, in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.
The right to be a Canadian: Irving Himel, K. Dock Yip, and The Committee for the Repeal of the Chinese Immigration Act
Voting. It's complicated. Canada has been reluctant to share her treasures, at least to its non-male, non-white peoples. Nearly 70 years ago, Canada's Chinese, Japanese, and South Asian people won the right to vote in Canada. It had been a long time coming. You may know the story of the Famous Five*, who fought for and won women's voting… Continue reading The right to be a Canadian: Irving Himel, K. Dock Yip, and The Committee for the Repeal of the Chinese Immigration Act