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Dredging up my O-level history I think women first voted in local government elections, specifically elections to School Boards, following the 1870 Education Act. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was elected as one of the first female members of a school board. Cheers Martin Martin Taylor City Archivist Hull History Centre Worship Street Hull HU2 8BG (01482) 317501 [log in to unmask] ________________________________ From: Archivists, conservators and records managers. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Vivienne Aldous Sent: 12 March 2010 15:39 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Friday afternoon question - the female franchise! Sorry I can't cite chapter and verse, but I seem to remember one of our academic researchers at the Corporation of London Records Office some years ago finding some 17th century women voting at Wardmotes in the City of London. I seem to remember that there might even have been a legal case about it in one of the Royal Courts at Westminster, which I think upheld a particular woman's right to vote, but it didn't seem to catch on. If so, it almost certainly would have been a "custom and practice" issue, rather than a statute which authorised it. Any other ex-CLRO archivists or academics out there remember this one? Vivienne Aldous former archivist CLRO Freelance Archivist and Archive Researcher ----- Original Message ----- From: Gilliam, Chris - Social & Community Services <mailto:[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 2:52 PM Subject: Friday afternoon question - the female franchise! In order to answer a question that has been brought up by one of our researchers, I would be grateful if anyone can provide a specific date and preferably a statute when women - married or otherwise - were first elegible to be registered as voters in local government elections. The 1894 Local Government Act is commonly cited however I can find no reference to the matter other than section 43 which provides for the removal of the disqualification on married women. Presumably spinsters and widows were already elegible and indeed section 63 of the Municipal Corporations Act 1882 (45 & 46 Vict c 50) specifically states that women are included in the qualifications. The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 (5 & 6 Will IV c 76) s 9 excludes women by restricting burgess qualifications to male persons. So, somewhere between 1835 and 1882 some women must have become elegible to vote in local elections. I suggest replies could be on-list as others may be interested. Many thanks Chris Mr C Gilliam, Archivist Oxfordshire Record Office, Heritage & Arts St Luke's Church, Temple Road Cowley, Oxford OX4 2HT ( Tel 01865 398200) www.oxfordshire.gov.uk <file:///\\www.oxfordshire.gov.uk> Oxfordshire Record office is open to the public from Wednesday to Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm. 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