What was the first country to give women the right to vote in parliamentary elections in 1893?

In 1893 New Zealand gave women the right to vote in parliamentary elections, making it the first self-governing country to do so. However women couldn't be elected to parliament - this followed in 1919. The first country to give women full political rights, i.e. both the right to vote and to run for office, was Finland in 1906. In the US the territory of Wyoming gave unrestricted suffrage to women in 1869. In 1896 Utah became a state and reinstated women's suffrage (that had been removed in 1887).

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11 Comments

Louella Wilson

New Zealand is generally cited for this question, in giving voting rights to women. In 1904 South Australia not only gave women voting rights, but also the right to stand for parliament. Both were British colonies at the time, not countries as the questions asked. Never-the-less, both were years in advance of 'the motherland'. I suspect that Alec Boreham is correct is saying it was Australia in 12th June 1902. Still years ahead of most other countries.

Louella Wilson

Emma Chan, technically New Zealand was a British colony. Not a Country. Australia became a country on January 1 1901. New Zealand did not become independent until 1907.

Emma Chan

Alec Boreham, the question is 'the right to vote in parliamentary elections' so the answer is correct. To put it in context though, it was all adult (>21) female citizens (remembering there were restrictions on who could be a 'citizen'), without the property restrictions male suffrage had had.

teresab

filmnut, is it a better site than this?

Julia Kaye

The first place to give women the right to vote in a General,Election was the Isle of Man in 1881.

Alec Boreham

Part of the answer is wrong ~ The first country to give women full political rights, i.e. both the right to vote and to run for office, was Australia in 12th June 1902