§ 59. Sir EVELYN CECILasked 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-LampsonAs 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.
1837— | 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 |