Primary sourceBook1859
Thoughts on Parliamentary Reform
John Stuart Mill · 1859
Mill's 1859 pamphlet on electoral reform, addressing the secret ballot, plural voting and women's political inclusion.
Mill's own pamphlet setting out his detailed proposals for parliamentary and electoral reform.
About this source
What it is
A pamphlet written by John Stuart Mill, published in London in 1859, though Mill notes much of it was written five years earlier in anticipation of an earlier reform bill. It was issued ahead of a new Reform Act being prepared by Parliament.
Why it matters
In this work Mill argued against the secret ballot and in favour of plural voting, while also supporting the inclusion of women in electoral reform — a notably progressive position for the time. It shows Mill working through the practical details of democratic reform, connecting his philosophical commitment to liberty with concrete proposals for how voting should actually work.
Look closer
- Why might Mill have opposed the secret ballot even while supporting wider participation in voting?
- What does his support for women's inclusion reveal about his broader beliefs?
- How does Mill explain the timing of this pamphlet's publication?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of John Stuart Mill on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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