Suffrage "indiscriminate of sex" - Commemoration and Reflection

The first legislations passed by the provisional National Assembly of the Republic of "German Austria" already included basic decisions regarding the upcoming democratic system of Austria. As a consequence, on 12 November 1918, the State Council adopted the "universal, equal, direct and secret right to vote indiscriminate of sex" which was followed on 18 December by a new and detailed set of rules with regard to universal franchise. The voting age was set at 20 years while the legal age to stand for elections was laid down for both women and men at 29 years.

"Women's Suffrage Now" - a long struggle

The barricades of 1848 were also defended by women who took part in the fight for co-determination in political decisions in accordance with the overall demands of the Revolution of 1848. However, any kind of political thinking or even acting was not yet part of their struggle. In 1848 franchise was still a privilege granted to men only depending on their tax revenue and property. There were very few women who on the basis of their landed estate and tax payments were also entitled to vote.

In the 1880s the first women's associations were established focussing primarily on equal access to education and equal career opportunities. It is only towards the end of the 19th century that a genuine suffrage movement is set in motion. In 1907 when universal and equal franchise is introduced for men the call for women's right to vote receives momentum. Upper and middle-class women promote their struggle mainly through petitions and publications while women affiliated to the Social Democratic Party organise parades and demonstrations. But they share the same aim: "Women's Suffrage Now!"

16 February 1919 - women's votes count for the first time

In the elections on 16 February 1919, 87 per cent of enfranchised men and 84 per cent of enfranchised women make use of their right to vote. In March 1919, eight members of the constituent National Assembly are women: Anna Boschek, Emmy Freundlich, Adelheid Popp, Gabriele Proft, Therese Schlesinger, Amalie Seidel and Maria Tusch of the Social Democratic Party and Hildegard Burjan of the Christian Social Party. These women, who mostly come from modest circumstances, will devote their work in Parliament to the alleviation and elimination of poverty ravaging the young Republic and to the fight against social injustice and discrimination based on sex.