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Dear all,

The definitive answer seems to be the Municipal Franchise Act, 1869 (32 & 33 Vict c 55), section 9 of which gave women the same rights as men in the election of councillors, auditors and assessors. It appears that the general principle was narrowed by the courts in 1872 to include only single and widowed women (presumably on the basis that the qualifications conferring the status of burgess in a married household would apply to the husband rather than the wife).

Many thanks to all those who responded. I have learned something interesting this afternoon and I am sure it would surprise many people that women did have some voting rights 60 years before before equal suffrage was introduced - the illogicality of that situation and the entrenched obstructivism to change for so long puts the suffragette movement into greater perspective for me. I was particularly interested by the reports of earlier 17th and 18th century examples of women voting in local political meetings.

Chris Gilliam

-----Original Message-----
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gilliam, Chris - Social & Community Services
Sent: 12 March 2010 14:52
To: [log in to unmask]
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
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