March 6, 2017
International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March
For how long have women in Germany been allowed to vote and to stand for election?
The right to vote and the eligibility to stand for election have been introduced for women in Germany on 30 November 1918.
The “Ordinance on elections to the constituent German national assembly (Reich Electoral Law) of 30 November 1918” introduced the right to vote and the eligibility to stand for election for all “German men and women who have reached the age of 20 years on election day, including persons of the soldier profession” (Sections 2, 3). The right to vote and the eligibility to stand for election were extended to include women, people aged 20 to 25 years, and soldiers.
On 19 January 1919, women participated in the first general, direct and secret election to the constituent German national assembly was held on the basis of the principle of proportional representation. The result by sex was as follows:
| Eligibility to vote | Voter turnout | Voter turnout, % | Deputies elected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 15,061,114 | 12,421,167 | 82.5 | 385 |
| Women | 17,710,872 | 14,572,345 | 82.3 | 36 |
Source: Vierteljahreshefte zur Statistik des Deutschen Reiches. 28. Jahrgang, 1919, Erstes Ergänzungsheft (statistical evaluation of 33 of the 37 constituencies; excluding military persons and German-Austrians)