In 1857 John Guilford voted on the first South Canterbury Electoral Roll. Before then, any elector who chose to register appeared on the Christchurch Country Roll. The electoral boundary for what was originally known as the 'Timaru Electoral District' extended from the southernmost branch of the Ashburton River to the Waitangi (Waitaki) River. The earlist northern boundary of what was originally known as the Southern Pastoral District was the Rakaia River. Although John lived in Papanui, a farmer, and not in the South Canterbury district, he was entitled to vote because he held property there.

In 1860 the right to vote was extended for the first time to gold miners and any male British subject over 21 who held a miner's right (i.e. held a licence which cost £1 per year) was entitled to vote without having to enroll. Previous years, they had been excluded under the property requirement as they lived in tents, in rough shacks or lodging houses. All Maori men were able to vote from 1867 and all European men from 1879. In 1893 New Zealand was the first country in the world to enable women to vote in national elections.