Women's Right To Vote

Asia

Western Samoa: first election since universal suffrage

The 1991 general election

More than 56,000 Western Samoans went to the polls on Friday, 5 April 1991, in the country's first general election since the introduction of universal suffrage (Observer 3 April 1991). A total of 156 candidates competed for seats in the 47- member parliament —60 under the HRPP banner, 40 for the SNDP and 56 independents. Three candidates contested the two seats set aside for individual voters. Two candidates were elected unopposed (Leniu Avamagalo from Vaimauga East and Vaai Kolone from Vaisigano No. 1).

Polling booths were open from nine o'clock in the morning until three o'clock in the afternoon, with provisional results starting to come inover the two local radio stations at about six o'clock. By midnight provisional results for all the territorial constituencies and two representatives for the individual voters were known.

Universal Suffrage in Western Samoa: The 1991 General Elections

Women's Right To Vote

A Timespace showing the evolution of women's right to vote around the world. Cover image by Giacomo Ferroni. Under construction!

Switzerland Finland Norway: women allowed to vote in special cases Denmark: women allowed to vote in municipal elections Portugal: Carolina Beatriz Ângelo becomes the first woman to vote Norway: all restrictions lifted Denmark: women allowed to vote in national elections Iceland: women of a certain age allowed to vote Netherlands: women allowed to stand for elections, but still can't vote Estonia Russia Hungary: limited suffrage Ireland: women over 30 years allowed to vote and stand for election Austria Latvia: women allowed to vote Georgia Poland Germany Belarus Ukraine Belgium: limited women suffrage Netherlands Luxembourg Netherlands: women allowed to vote Albania Slovakia Czech Republic Slovenia: women allowed to vote in municipal elections Armenia Belgium: women allowed to stand for election, with restrictions Lithuania Ireland: universal suffrage Great Britain: universal suffrage Romania: women have restricted voting rights Great Britain: with age restriction (over 30 years old) Portugal: women are allowed to vote Spain: women allowed to stand for election Spain: women allowed to vote France Bulgaria Italy: women can vote, but their right to be elected was limited Slovenia Croatia Romania: all restrictions lifted Macedonia Malta Belgium: universal suffrage Bosnia and Herzegovina Greece: full suffrage San Marino: women allowed to vote Cyprus Monaco Andorra: women allowed to vote Switzerland: women are first allowed to vote on federal elections San Marino: women allowed to stand for election Portugal: universal suffrage Moldova Liechtenstein: referendum grants women right to vote
Afghanistan: women are denied many rights under Taleban rule Afghanistan: women are denied many rights under Taleban rule Afghanistan: women are denied many rights under Taleban rule Afghanistan: women are denied many rights under Taleban rule Azerbaijan: women over 20 are allowed to vote and stand for election Afghanistan: the country becomes independent and women are allowed to vote Afghanistan: return to Sharia Law Turkey: women allowed to vote in local elections Turkey: women allowed to stand for election and vote in national elections Pakistan: independence from the British Syria: women allowed to vote Israel: Women’s Equal Rights Law Lebanon Syria: women allowed to stand for election Somalia Egypt: new constitution affirms gender equality in electoral rights Tunisia: municipal elections Tunisia: all elections Algeria Libya Morocco Iran Afghanistan: new constitution allows women to vote and run for office Yemen (People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen) Yemen (Arab Republic of Yemen) Jordan: women allowed to vote Iraq: women are granted the right to vote and run for office Kuwait: voting is first introduced in the country and women have the right to vote Jordan: women exercise their right to vote for the first time Oman: first Gulf State to allow women to vote Afghanistan: women are denied many rights under Taleban rule Qatar Bahrain: women vote for the first time Oman: universal suffrage is granted Afghanistan: women allowed to vote by the most recent constitution Kuwait: 1999 ban on women's suffrage is lifted UAE: 1,163 women allowed to vote in the country's first ever election Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah lifts ban on women's vote Saudi Arabia: first election that allows women to vote