<P> This phrase was traditionally used in the context of demands for suffrage reform . Historically the emphasis within the House of Commons was on representing areas: counties, boroughs and, later on, universities . The entitlement to vote for the Members of Parliament representing the constituencies varied widely, with different qualifications over time, such as owning property of a certain value, holding an apprenticeship, qualifying for paying the local - government rates, or holding a degree from the university in question . Those who qualified for the vote in more than one constituency were entitled to vote in each constituency, while many adults did not qualify for the vote at all . Plural voting was also present in local government, whereby the owners of business property qualified for votes in the relevant wards . </P> <P> Reformers argued that Members of Parliament and other elected officials should represent citizens equally, and that each voter should be entitled to exercise the vote once in an election . Successive Reform Acts by 1950 had both extended the franchise eventually to almost all adult citizens (barring convicts, lunatics and members of the House of Lords), and also reduced and finally eliminated most of the plural voting for both Westminster and local - government elections . </P> <P> But, there were two significant exceptions: </P> <P> The City of London had never expanded its boundaries and, with many residential dwellings being replaced by businesses, and the destruction of The Blitz, after the Second World War the financial district had barely five thousand residents altogether . The system of plural voting was retained for electing the City of London Corporation, with some modifications . </P>

What does one person one vote one value mean