MemoriaVolatilis

This year has marked the 100th anniversary of universal and equal suffrage in Finland. Finland was the first European country to grant universal suffrage to its citizens in 1906 and the first country to make every citizen eligible to run for parliament. This meant that also women could vote and run for parliament. In the 1907 elections 19 women were elected to the Finnish parliament. They were the world's first female members of parliament.

Although New Zealand became the first nation to grant women the right to vote in 1893, women were not eligible to run for parliament until 1919. Australia granted universal adult suffrage in 1902, but the legislation specifically excluded aboriginals. In 1949 aboriginals were given the right to enrol and vote at federal elections provided they were entitled to enrol for State elections or had served in the Defence Forces. In 1963 the voluntary enrolment and voting at federal elections was extended to all Australian aboriginals. Norway introduced women's suffrage in 1913 (women could stand for election from 1907 but could not vote), Denmark 1915 (women could vote in local elections since 1908) and Iceland also in 1915. In Sweden women's suffrage was introduced 1921.

Women's suffrage is still denied or conditioned in:
-Bhutan. One vote per house.
-Lebanon. Voting is optional for women and a proof of education is required. Voting is compulsory for men, independent of education.
-Brunei. Absolute monarchy, neither men nor women have the right to vote or to stand for election.
-Saudi Arabia. Women have no right to vote or to stand for election.
-United Arab Emirates. The first elections ever in the United Arab Emirates will be held in December 2006. Electoral college of 6689 persons will elect half of the members of the parliament, other half will be appointed by the rulers of the constituent states. 1189 members of the electoral college are women.
-Vatican City. No suffrage for women, the only elections ever held there are Papal conclaves, which involve only male cardinals.