Rotten boroughs

Rotten boroughs were small, often declining or unpopulated parliamentary districts in 19th-century Britain that still had voting rights. These districts could elect members to Parliament despite having very few voters or no inhabitants at all. This imbalance allowed wealthy patrons or local elites to manipulate elections and influence political decisions, undermining fair representation. The term highlights issues of electoral corruption and uneven political power distribution, leading to reforms in the 19th century aimed at creating a more equitable voting system.