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.
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
Oxfordshire Record
office is open to the public from Wednesday to Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm. It is
advisable to contact us before visiting to check seat availability. If you wish
to look at original records, you will need to register for a County Archive
Research Network ticket by providing two passport-size photographs and official
evidence of your address and signature (e.g. driver's licence or bank statement
and credit/debit card). The ticket is valid for four years in about forty
record offices around the country, and is a security measure to protect
irreplaceable documents.
Oxfordshire Record Office is a
section of Community Services in Oxfordshire County Council. This e-mail
is intended for the use of the addressee only and may contain information that
is privileged and confidential. Misuse of the information may constitute
criminal offences for which you would be liable. If you have received
this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete
the message from your system. The views expressed may be personal to the
sender and should not be taken necessarily as the views of Oxfordshire County
Council, who cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy and completeness
of this message. Recipients should be aware that all e-mails received by
this authority are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and therefore
may be disclosed to a third party.
Save
money and paper - do you really need to print this email?
This email, including attachments, may contain confidential information. If you
have received it in error, please notify the sender by reply and delete it
immediately. Views expressed by the sender may not be those of Oxfordshire
County Council. Council emails are subject to the Freedom of Information Act
2000. http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/emaildisclaimer
Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask]
For
information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday)
see the list website at
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=archives-nra