Women's Right To Vote

Middle East, North Africa and Greater Arabia

Kuwait: 1999 ban on women's suffrage is lifted

Kuwaiti women win right to vote
Supporters of the amendment allowing women to vote celebrate

The Kuwaiti parliament has voted to give women full political rights.

The amendment to the Kuwait's electoral law means women can for the first time vote and stand in parliamentary and local elections.

It was passed by 35 votes for, 23 against, with one abstention. Council elections are due this year.

The result, announced by the speaker of parliament, was greeted with thunderous applause from the public gallery where backers of the amendment were gathered.

"I congratulate the women of Kuwait for having achieved their political rights," said Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

BBC News

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