In this episode, Ethan Reuter speaks with Dr. Luke Blaxill about the extraordinary 1918 general election—the first after the Great War and the first under the Representation of the People Act, which tripled the electorate overnight. Held just six weeks after armistice amid demobilisation and the influenza pandemic, this was democracy's leap into the great unknown.

The conversation explores the dramatic transformation of British politics through the controversial "coupon"—a simple piece of paper signed by Lloyd George and the Conservative leader that became a victory passport for coalition candidates. Dr. Blaxill explains how this khaki election, fought on punishing Germany and building the peace, split the Liberal Party in two, elevated Labour to official opposition status, and cemented Conservative dominance for decades to come.

But the most revolutionary outcome came from Ireland, where Sinn Féin swept to power, winning 73 seats—47 of their MPs elected from prison. Their refusal to take their seats in Westminster and decision to form their own parliament in Dublin transformed an electoral mandate into a revolutionary moment that would reshape the union itself.

From the mystery of who received the coupon to the first woman MP elected, this is the story of an election that ended Victorian politics and ushered in the democratic age—though nobody quite understood what that would mean until the pieces fell.

Famous Historical Elections: The Coupon Election of 1918

In this episode, Ethan Reuter speaks with Dr. Luke Blaxill, historian and Oxford college lecturer, about the 1832 general election that followed Britain's Great Reform Act. This wasn't just an election—it was a constitutional turning point that redrew the boundaries of British democracy itself.

The conversation explores the turbulent lead-up to reform, from the July Revolution in France to widespread rioting in British streets, the burning of the Duke of Newcastle's castle, and 250 fatalities in Bristol alone. Dr. Blaxill explains how elite fears of revolutionary upheaval, combined with pressure from below, forced a reluctant aristocracy to open the franchise to middle-class men and grant representation to industrial cities like Manchester and Birmingham for the first time.

But the Reform Act was never meant to be generous. As Robert Peel warned, once the door was opened even slightly, it couldn't be closed again. The episode examines how this careful compromise sparked the development of modern party politics, unleashed working-class movements like Chartism, energised moral campaigns from slavery abolition to Irish repeal, and set Britain on an irreversible path toward universal suffrage. This is the story of the election that changed everything—even if it was meant to change as little as possible.

Famous Historical Elections: The Great Reform Election of 1832

We are stepping into the world of satire with the classic BBC comedy Blackadder. In one of its sharpest episodes, ‘Dish and Dishonesty’ we’re taken to the so-called Dunny-on-the-Wold by-election — a contest for a “rotten borough” so small it has only one voter… and even he’s dead.

Our guest for this episode will be none other than William Pitt the Younger, himself. Played by Simon Osborne in the Blackadder episode he will give his insights into the election and what went wrong for his part and whether he should have had a cunning plan!

In true Blackadder fashion, Edmund Blackadder seizes the opportunity to parachute his servant Baldrick into Parliament, manipulating the rules of the system with ruthless cunning. What follows is a hilarious but biting parody of the unreformed British electoral system, showing just how absurd, and how open to abuse, those pocket boroughs really were before the great parliamentary reforms of the 19th century.

After Dark: Fictional Elections – Blackadder with William Pitt the Younger (Simon Osborne)

In this episode, Matt Davis interviews Lord David Alton about his extraordinary victory in the 1979 Liverpool Edge Hill by-election. At just 27 years old, Alton achieved one of the most stunning upsets in British electoral history, overturning a massive Labour majority in one of their safest seats during the Winter of Discontent.

The conversation explores how a young Liberal teacher and councillor built a grassroots campaign that capitalised on voter anger at industrial chaos, uncollected refuse, and unburied dead in Liverpool's streets. Alton reveals the innovative community politics approach that connected him to local people, the role of local media in amplifying his message, and the dramatic final days when his victory helped seal the fate of Jim Callaghan's government.

From dirty tricks involving the National Front to betting against 30-1 odds, and becoming both the youngest MP and the shortest-serving member in parliamentary history, this is the inside story of a by-election that proved no seat is truly safe when voters decide it's time for change.

Famous By-Elections: Lord David Alton and Liverpool Edge Hill 1979

The UK’s overseas postal voting system is failing — extended enfranchisement without operational capacity has created a perfect storm of lost ballots, tight timetables and systemic disenfranchisement. In this document we report alarmingly low return rates for overseas packs (average c.52% vs 81% domestically) and we explain how batching practices, snap-election application surges and short statutory deadlines conspire to make many overseas votes uncountable.

Overseas Postal Voting at Breaking Point: Millions at Risk of Losing Their Vote

Win the votes, buy the votes, steal the votes, invalidate the votes! There is a lot that can go right - and so much that can go wrong - in a Ukrainian election. From the opening of the campaign through to the final decision on the results, it is a rollercoaster ride for the candidates, the election workers, and the international observers who have travelled from afar to see it all.

In What Ukrainian Elections Taught Me about Democracy long-time election observer Jane Cooper recounts her experience monitoring a municipal election in the mid-sized city of Kirovohrad in 2015

Jane Cooper is a professional researcher and writer whose interests span from local history to international politics. For more than twenty-five years, she has been bringing to life stories from the past and present, drawing on extensive research and hands-on experience in Canada and abroad.

Jane Cooper: Observing Ukraine's Elections

Lily Russell-Jones interviews Director of Democracy Volunteers, Dr. John Ault, on the deployment of observers at the Norwegian Parliamentary Election. The interview covers topics from changes in law affecting family voting through to potential foreign interference, listen in to learn the intricacies of polling day in Norway.

Election Special: Norway 2025

Over the coming weeks Democracy Volunteers and the Observations Podcast will be guiding you through some of the most historic general elections in the UK. From the 1832 election which brought in the first seeds of parliamentary reform, the 1906 Liberal landslide, the Coupon Election of 1918 up to the 1997 Labour win and the 2010 election which delivered the first coalition since the war, our team will introduce leading experts on the elections.

We will be joined by: Dr. Luke Blaxill, Professor of Modern British History at Oxford University; Dr. Robert Saunders, Reader in Modern British History at Queen Mary University of London; Dr. David Redvaldsen, Associate Professor at the University of Agder; Dr. Rosie Campbell, Professor of Politics at King's College London; Professor Sir John Curtice of the University of Strathclyde; Dr. Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London; and Andrew Sparrow, Political Correspondent for The Guardian.

Coming Soon: Historic UK General Elections

This year, Democracy Volunteers celebrates a decade of independent election observation. Since our founding in 2015, we have grown to become Western Europe’s leading election observation organisation, working at home and abroad to improve the quality of elections and to strengthen public confidence in the democratic process.

Over the past ten years, our observers have been on the ground in polling stations, election counts, and campaigns — offering impartial assessments, raising awareness of risks to electoral integrity, and supporting reforms that protect the secrecy and freedom of the vote.

A Decade in Numbers

 * 13,658 polling stations observed
 * 208,515 voters seen casting their ballot
 * The equivalent of 289 full days spent in polling stations
 * ‘Family Voting’ identified in 23% of UK polling stations
 * Key evidence provided to support the Ballot Secrecy Act 2023
 * 15 countries and territories observed, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Gibraltar, Ireland, Isle of Man, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA

Looking Ahead

Our work is far from over. Democracy depends on vigilance, transparency, and trust — and we remain committed to strengthening those foundations. As we move into our second decade, we will continue to train and deploy observers, share impartial evidence, and advocate for the highest standards in democratic practice.

Thank you to everyone — our observers, partners, supporters, and friends — who has been part of our journey so far. Together, we are helping democracy work better for everyone.

10 Years of Democracy Volunteers – Strengthening Elections, Supporting Democracy

In this episode, Matt Davis sits down with Trudy Harrison, who won the Copeland by-election in 2017, overturning decades of Labour dominance in the constituency. Trudy reflects on the dramatic campaign that brought her into Parliament, the issues that defined the contest, and what it was like to step into national politics through such a high-profile victory. 

From the pressures of campaigning to the significance of the result for the Conservative Party, this conversation offers a unique insight into one of the most remarkable by-elections in recent political history.

Famous By-Elections: Trudy Harrison and Copeland 2017

The Observations Podcast, brought to you by the Democracy Volunteers team, brings you insightful coverage of elections—past, present, local, national, and international. Our team of experts dives into the stories behind the ballots, speaking with candidates, campaigners, organisers and winners to uncover the narratives you won’t hear anywhere else.

Tune in for a deeper look at the elections that shape our world. Our expert interviewers: TV presenter Edd Charlton, ITV and BBC journalist Alex Iszatt and researcher Matt Davis bring their skills to our “Observations” podcast which seeks to inform our listeners to the world of elections and elections observation.

We are nonpartisan and so is it. We interview behind elections and democracy. Subscribe today or just listen in.

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