Women's suffrage in Francoist Spain and the democratic transition
Women's suffrage in Francoist Spain and the democratic transition was constrained by age limits, definitions around heads of household and a lack of elections.
Women got the right to vote in Spain in 1933 as a result of legal changes made during the Second Spanish Republic.
Repression of the women's vote occurred nevertheless as the dictatorship held no national democratic elections between 1939 and 1977.
Women could, under certain conditions involving age and marital status, vote in municipal elections.
This period ended with the Spanish Civil War and the official start of Francoist Spain in 1939.
Because of controls by the dictatorship, elected municipal and legislative officials were limited in the changes they could enact.
[4] Universal suffrage existed in Spain during the dictatorship, but the only time people could vote was during referendums and for municipal officials.
[6][7] The age of majority for women became 23 as a result of the imposition of the reintroduction of the Civil Code of 1889, Article 321.
An additional clause still stipulated women did not reach majority until they were 25 unless they were married or joined a convent.
"[7] Most public efforts around franchising of women in this period were based on regime attempts to be perceived abroad as more democratic, and did not necessarily lead to greater numbers of eligible voters or meaningful and free elections that could result in undermining the regime.
Selection for the body was done indirectly, through other political organs of the state, including state-sanctioned unions, city councils and state-run businesses.
"[5] Alejandra Bujedo Fernández and María Pilar Zarzuela Plaza were the first female candidates for a municipal union election in Valladolid but they did not run until 1970, and were joined by Esperanza López Delgado who ran for one of three corporations and entities positions.
While allowing these right wing monarchists to run, the Government used all its available tools to discourage voters from supporting them.
[5] The 1963 municipal elections for corporations and entities positions in Valladolid saw Dolores Pérez Lapeña come out victorious.
[7][10] Only three people were elected into this position, and she won along with Rafael Tejedor Torcida and Juan Ignacio Pérez Pellón.
"[10] Her concerns as an elected official included "displacement from the towns before the industrial growth of the city."
[10] The 1966 Spanish organic law referendum gave universal suffrage to all citizens over the age of 21.
[11] Citizens were so confused about who could vote in this election, that a newspaper needed to explain, stating: "All Spanish citizens over twenty-one years of age, without distinction of sex, state or profession, have the right and obligation to take part in the referendum vote, freely casting the ballot for or against the legislative draft consulted.
The adult is capable of all acts of civil life, apart from the exceptions established in special cases of this Code.
[16] In Madrid, 22% of voters submitted blank ballots or null votes, higher than most other regional capitals.
