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
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