A TIMELINE OF VOTING RIGHTS
By Tim Lambert
1792 Kentucky gives all men the right to vote (it's restricted to white men in 1799). Other US states gradually follow.
1830 In Britain about 10% of men can vote
1830 In Britain a law gives about 14% of men the right to vote
1844 In Greece all men gain the right to vote
1848 In France and Switzerland all men gain the right to vote
1856 North Carolina is the last US state to give all white men the right to vote. South Australia gives all male British subjects the right to vote.
1857 Victoria, Australia gives all male British citizens the vote
1858 New South Wales gives all male British citizens the vote
1861 Women in South Australia who own property are allowed to vote in local elections
1867 In Britain a law gives the right to vote to about 30% of men
1869 All men in Spain are allowed to vote. Wyoming gives women the right to vote.
1870 The 15th amendment theoretically gives African American men the right to vote. (In practice in many states they were prevented from doing so till the 1960s).
1871 In Germany all men are given the vote
1872 Queensland, Australia gives all male British citizens the vote
1879 All men in New Zealand are given the right to vote
1884 In Britain a law gives about 60% of men the right to vote
1891 In Brazil all literate men are given the vote. (Since most men are illiterate most are excluded).
1893 Women in New Zealand are given the right to vote. Men In Colorado voted in a referendum to allow women to vote. Western Australia gives all men the right to vote.
1896 Women in Idaho and Utah are given the vote
1898 All men in Norway are given the vote
1902 Women in Australia are allowed to vote in federal elections
1906 All men in Finland are given the vote. Women in Finland are also given the vote.
1907 All men in Austria are given the vote
1910 Women in Washington state are given the vote
1911 Women in California are given the vote
1912 All men in Italy are given the vote. All men in Argentina are given the right to vote. Women in Oregon, Arizona, and Kansas are given the vote.
1913 Women in Alaska are given the vote. In Norway women are allowed to vote.
1914 Women in Montana and Nevada are given the vote
1915 In Denmark all men and women are allowed to vote
1917 All men in the Netherlands are given the vote. All men in Mexico are allowed to vote. Women in New York State are given the vote.
1918 In Britain for the first time all men over 21 are allowed to vote. In Portugal all men are allowed to vote. Women over 30 are allowed to vote if they meet a property qualification. Women in Germany and Austria are allowed to vote. Women in Canada are allowed to vote in Federal elections.
1919 All men and women in Sweden are allowed to vote. Women in the Netherlands are given the vote. All men in Belgium are allowed to vote.
1920 The 19th amendment gave women in all states the right to vote (if they could not do so already)
1923 All men in Egypt are given the vote
1924 All men in Turkey are given the vote
1925 All men in Japan are given the vote
1929 In Britain all women over 21 are given the vote. Ecuador gives women the vote (if they are literate).
1931 Women in Spain are given the vote. Women in Portugal are allowed to vote if they have completed secondary education.
1932 In Brazil literate women are allowed to vote
1934 Women in Turkey are allowed to vote in national elections
1935 In the Philippines all men are allowed to vote
1937 In the Philippines women are given the vote
1944 Women in France are given the vote
1945 Women in Italy are allowed to vote
1946 Women in Japan are given the vote. More women in Portugal are given the right to vote (but some are still excluded).
1947 All men in Malta are given the vote. Women in Malta are also given the vote. Women in Argentina are allowed to vote.
1948 Women in Belgium are given the vote
1952 Women in Greece are given the vote. All men and women in Bolivia are allowed to vote. (Previously there had been restrictions in Bolivia on which men could vote. Women could not vote).
1953 Women in Mexico are given the vote
1956 Women in Egypt are allowed to vote
1969 In Britain everyone over 18 is allowed to vote
1971 Women in Switzerland are allowed to vote. In the USA everyone over 18 is allowed to vote.
1976 All women in Portugal are allowed to vote
1984 Men in Liechtenstein vote in a referendum to allow women to vote
1985 In Brazil illiterate people are given the right to vote