This Act, which came into force with the abolition of the Provinces, set up the network of Counties, Ridings, and other local authorities to give rural people representative bodies similar to the boroughs of urban dwellers. Every person over twenty-one whose name appeared on their land valuation rolls qualified as an elector, and the franchise was further widened by including men on the electoral roll for the House of Representatives, which had a lower valuation threshold. The Counties Act was also a landmark in enabling every qualified elector (including women) to stand for election as councillors.