1879 Universal male suffrage
On 14 November 1879, twelve years after Māori men received universal suffrage, legislation was introduced to give the right to vote to every male aged 21 and over, provided they had resided in the colony for twelve months and in their electorate for six months. Property qualifications were reduced but plural voting was continued, allowing a man to vote in each electorate in which he held property. This practice persisted until 'one man, one vote' was implemented in 1889. Moves to give the franchise to women and to increase the number of Māori seats were only narrowly defeated.
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