It was years of suffrage across the globe that led to a select number of British women being granted the right to vote in 1918.

But thanks to a systematic error on the electoral register, it is believed that one woman was able to cast her vote some seven years previously.

In 1911, Frances Connelly was mistakenly added to the electoral role and sent a polling card for a local by-election in Yeoville, Somerset.

The error is thought to have occurred after someone assumed she was a man from the spelling of her name.

Seeing Ms Connelly walk into the polling station, Conservative agent Harold Fletcher debated the matter with WT Snell, barrister of the Western Circuit, it was reported.

The two officials consulted presiding officer WW Henley, who agreed they had no choice but to let her cast her vote.

The rules at the time stated that in order to vote, individuals had to be the person named on the register card and were not allowed to have cast votes previously in the same election – both criteria Ms Connelly met.

Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Male and female members of the women's suffrage movement on a protest march through London in 1900 F J Mortimer/Getty Images Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Suffrage leader Emmeline Pankhurst, who led the movement to win the vote for women in Great Britain . Getty Images / Topical Press Agency / Stringer Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Suffragettes Annie Kenney and Mary Gawthorne painting a pavement with a slogan, 'Votes For Women', during the Hexham by-election in 1907 Hulton Archive/Getty Images Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Crowds lining the streets as they watch suffragettes (left to right) Emmeline Pankhurst, Mary Jane Clark (Emmeline's sister), the driver, Charlotte Marsh and Jessie Kelly pass by following their release from Holloway Prison on 1 February, 1908. PA Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures Flora Drummond (left) giving instructions to suffragettes dressed as prisoners in 1908. PA Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Imprisoned suffragettes waving through the barred windows of Holloway Prison, London, 1909. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Emmeline Pankhurst being jeered by a crowd in New York, circa 1911. GETTY Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes A male suffrage supporter is led over the bridge at St. James' Park, after being arrested for involvement in the attack on Buckingham Palace in 1912. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Suffragette Lady Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, treasurer of the WSPU, celebrates her release from prison in 1912. HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Emily Davison, who was killed trying to stop King George V’s horse Anmer in the 1913 Derby. Getty Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Emily Davison (1872 - 1913) is fatally injured as she tries to stop the King's horse 'Amner' on Derby Day, to draw attention to the Women's Suffragette movement. Getty Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Fellow campaigners guard Emily Davison’s coffin at her funeral. Getty Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Suffragettes in the funeral procession of Emily Davison on 14th June 1913. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Crowds line the street as the funeral procession Emily Davison on 14 June 1913. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Labour MP and suffragette Barbara Ayrton-Gould. Getty Images Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Emmeline Pankhurst being arrested while trying to present a petition to the King at Buckingham Palace on 21 May 1914. Getty Images Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures The suffragettes Suffragettes holding white sunshades advertising their newspaper 'Suffragette' in 1914. Getty Images Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures A policeman restrains a demonstrator as suffragettes gathered outside Buckingham Palace on 21 May, 1914. PA Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures British Emmeline Pankhurst being jeered by a crowd in New York. Getty Images Votes for Women - the suffragette movement: in pictures Suffragettes during a mass meeting in the Royal Albert Hall. The Representation of the People Act, passed on February 6 1918, gave certain women over the age of 30 a vote and the right to stand for Parliament. PA

A report from a local newspaper dated November 29, 1911 reads: “The election will be remembered for the first time in the history of the constituency a woman claimed and was allowed to exercise the Parliamentary franchise.

”At the very moment a Suffragist's car was touring Yeovil displaying to an amused crowd the legend 'Mothers want votes', a lady was putting her cross against the name of Mr Aubrey Herbert - at least she is supposed to be on the Unionist side - at the Town Hall.

“The point was carried, and Mrs Connelly voted. What is more her vote was recorded in the ordinary way - not upon a 'tendered' paper - and was counted with the others.”

While her vote caused shock at the time, Ms Connelly was not the first British woman to carry a polling card.

In 1867, Lily Maxwell voted in a by-election in Manchester where regulations granted the right to all ratepayers, but overlooked the need to exempt women from the rule.

Several female property owners in Manchester followed her lead, but the loophole was plugged in the following year, and women’s suffrage declared illegal.

Women were first granted the vote in 1918 - but it was a privilege only given to wealthy, land-owning women over the age of 30. It was not until 1928 that full suffrage was introduced.