Class, Social Mobility, and Voting: Evidence from Historical Voting Records

We explore the connection between social class, mobility, and voting behavior in nineteenth-century England. To avoid pitfalls associated with survey or aggregate data on behavior, we use administrative longitudinal records preceding secret ballot voters’ choices occupation. These reveal that landed gentry, farm workers, non-skilled workers white-collar voted, average, more for Conservatives, petty bourgeoisie skilled Liberals. The changes within individuals due to mobility are immediate mainly consistent same cleavage. Our interpretation is was influenced by economic incentives.