The process through which Newfoundland acquired a local legislature in 1832 has long been misunderstood.

Today, Canadian citizens aged 18 and older have the right to vote in federal, provincial, and municipal elections. This is known as universal suffrage.

The period between 1815 and 1832 represents a watershed in the history of government and politics in Newfoundland.

The reform movement gained momentum during the early-19th century, a time of tremendous social, economic, and political change in the colony.