Tag Archives: election facts

Ellen Martin and 14 Other Women Managed to Legally Vote in Illinois in 1891, Even Though Illinois Law Didn’t Allow Women to Vote

In 1891, Ellen Martin was the first woman to be able to vote in Lombard, Illinois.  She noticed that the Lombard charter on who could vote didn’t mention gender.  This charter superseded Illinois law and, thus, she was legally allowed to vote.  She and 14 other women voted in the 1891 elections before the charter was promptly amended. Reference

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