HC Deb 24 May 1927 vol 206 cc1836-7
59. Sir EVELYN CECIL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can obtain information in what countries having Parliamentary Government the age for qualification as a voter exceeds 21; what is the qualifying age in each of these countries, respectively; and whether, in each case, both sexes are included or what differences are drawn between them?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Locker-Lampson

As the reply is rather long, and is best presented in tabular form, I will, with my right hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

Upper Chamber. Lower Chamber.
Argentine Republic—
Men 18 18
Women No franchise No franchise
Austria— Not a popularly elected chamber.
men 20
women 20
Belgium—
men 21 21
women* 21 21
Czechoslovakia—
men 26 21
women 26 26
Denmark—
men 35 25
women 35 25
Finland— There is no Second Chamber.
men 24
Women 24
* In Belgium only the following women may vote in parliamentary elections:-

(1) Widows, not re-married, of soldier killed in the Great War: widows of Belgian citizens killed by the enemy during the War, or, failing them, their mothers, if the latter are widows.

(2) Widowed mothers of bachelor soldiers killed in the War.

(3) Women condemned to imprisonment or subjected to preventive detention, for political reasons, during the enemy occupation of Belgium.

Upper Chamber Lower Chamber
France—
men 21 21
Women No franchise No franchise
Germany— Not a popularly elected Chamber.
Men 20
Women 20
Greece— There is no second Chamber.
Men 21
Women No franchise.
Italy— There is no second Chamber.
Men 21
Women No franchise.
Japan— There is no second Chamber.
Men 25
Women No franchise.
Netherlands—
Men 25 25
Women 25 25
Norway— There is no second Chamber.
Men 23
Women 23
Poland—
Men 30 21
Women 30 21
Portugal—
Men 21 21
Women No franchise No franchise
Rumania—
Men 40 21
Women No franchise No franchise
Serb-Croat-Slovene State— There is no second Chamber.
Men 21
Women No franchise
Spain—
Men Parliamentary are at institutions are at present in abeyance
Women
Sweden—
Men 27 23
Women 27 23
Switzerland—
Men 20 20
Women No franchise No franchise
United States of America—
Men 21 21
Women 21 21