Question

The first country that has given voting right to all the sections of the people is

• A. United States of America
• B. Soviet Russia
• C. New Zealand
• D. India

Hint:

New Zealand holds the distinction of being the first nation to grant universal suffrage, including women's voting rights, in 1893, making it a pioneer in democratic reforms.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understand the concept of "voting right to all sections of the people."
This phrase generally refers to universal adult suffrage, meaning the right to vote for all adult citizens, regardless of gender, race, religion, or economic status. Historically, many countries granted voting rights incrementally, often starting with property-owning men, then extending it to all men, and much later to women.

Step 2: Evaluate the historical context of voting rights in the given countries.
United States of America: While the US granted voting rights to all adult males regardless of race after the Civil War (15th Amendment, 1870), women's suffrage was only achieved nationally in 1920 (19th Amendment). Therefore, it was not the first to grant voting rights to "all sections of the people" comprehensively.
Soviet Russia: After the October Revolution in 1917, the Soviet Union introduced universal adult suffrage (including women's right to vote) relatively early. However, this was after New Zealand.
New Zealand: New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world to grant all adult women the right to vote in parliamentary elections in 1893. At that time, men already had voting rights without property qualifications. This effectively made New Zealand the first country to grant universal adult suffrage to all its adult citizens.
India: India adopted universal adult suffrage from the very beginning of its constitution in 1950, which was a significant achievement for a newly independent nation, but it was much later than New Zealand.

Step 3: Conclude the first country based on historical facts.
New Zealand was the first self-governing country to grant universal adult suffrage, including women's voting rights, in 1893.