Bahamas

House of Assembly Senate

Senate

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Historical data on women

Data on women’s right to vote and to stand for election, the date at which the first woman entered parliament, and female Heads of State or Government

Women's suffrage

Date of independence: 1973
Year of first woman in parliament: 1977

Notes: 1977: The first woman to be elected to Parliament was in 1982 to the Lower House.
Year of first woman speaker: 1997

Women’s right to vote

Women’s right to vote: 1961
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Universal

Notes: Prior to independence, under British administration, adult male suffrage was introduced in 1959, although members of the electorate satisfying certain property qualifications also received a second vote. Women were granted the vote in 1961 and by 1964 all property qualifications had been abolished. The right to vote was confirmed at independence.

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election: 1962
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: No information available