A right to vote

Today, on the 20th of July, we celebrate the 110th anniversary of Finnish women’s right to vote.

In the beginning of the 20th century Finland was part of Russia, the Grand Duchy of Finland. Russia’s quite poor success in Russo-Japanese War in 1904-1905 triggered unrest in the empire and also led to a general strike in Finland in 1905. Tsar Nicholas II, also the Grand Duke Nicholas II (Nikolai II) was forced to consent in some reforms in the empire. In Finland among others this meant broadening the right to vote. The working class demanded changes to the political rights during the general strike.

The Diet of Finland (säätyvaltiopäivät), last ones in the line of history dating back to the 14th century and Swedish regime, approved the new form of parliament and election law on 1.6.1906. This reform gave all men and women, above 24 years of age, the right to vote and to stand for election. The new parliament would be unicameral with 200 members, which would be elected by vote. On the 20.7.1906 the Tsar enact the law.

The Finnish women were the first in Europe and 3rd in the world to get the right to vote. They were the first women in the world to be granted the right to stand for election. First new parliament was elected in March 1907. 19 women were elected to the new parliament.

The general and equal right to vote changed the amount of people having the the right to vote from 126 000 persons to almost 1 273 000 persons, because also quite many men were without the right to vote before the renewal, f. ex. men, who did not own a property.

Today the parliament is still unicameral, the election is held every 4 years and at the moment (after 2015 election, total voter turnout being 66,9 % and in Finland 70,1 % with 4,46 million citizens having the right to vote) there are 83 women in the Finnish parliament (41,5 % of all representatives). In the European Parliament Finland has 13 member positions of which 8 is held by a Finnish woman (61,5 %).

The statistic of last parliament election can be found here.