Universal suffrage in the United States
As its name suggests the United States is a federal state. On joining federation the states ceded certain powers to the federal government but retained other powers for themselves. As a result, suffrage was granted at different times by states and the federal government.
The following definitions are used in the table below:
Universal Male Suffrage: Men of the majority or predominant ethnic group are permitted one secret vote in free elections irrespective of possession of land, wealth, education levels or literacy levels where the minimum age is no higher than 21.
Universal Female Suffrage: Women are permitted to vote on the same basis as men.
It is universally accepted within psephology that some citizens may be deprived of suffrage while a jurisdiction can still be considered to have Universal Suffrage. Examples of citizens so deprived include military officers, citizens who are non-resident, citizens serving a term of imprisonment and citizens with serious criminal records.
| Jurisdiction | Universal Male Suffrage | Universal Female Suffrage | Difference (years) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1870 | 1920 | 50 | Information in Wikipedia differs from that presented here due to a different definition for Universal Male Suffrage.[1] |
| Alabama | 1893 | 1920 | 27 | |
| Arizona | 1891 | 1912 | 21 | |
| Arkansas | 1891 | 1917 | 26 | |
| California | 1891 | 1911 | 20 | |
| Colorado | 1891 | 1893 | 2 | |
| Connecticut | 1909 | 1920 | 11 | |
| Delaware | 1891 | 1920 | 29 | |
| Florida | 1895 | 1920 | 25 | |
| Georgia | 1922 | 1922 | 0 | |
| Idaho | 1891 | 1896 | 5 | |
| Illinois | 1891 | 1913 | 22 | |
| Indiana | 1889 | 1919 | 30 | |
| Iowa | 1892 | 1919 | 27 | |
| Kansas | 1893 | 1912 | 19 | |
| Kentucky | 1882 | 1920 | 38 | |
| Louisiana | 1896 | 1920 | 24 | |
| Maine | 1891 | 1919 | 28 | |
| Maryland | 1892 | 1920 | 28 | |
| Massachusetts | 1888 | 1920 | 32 | |
| Michigan | 1891 | 1918 | 27 | |
| Minnesota | 1891 | 1919 | 28 | |
| Mississippi | 1890 | 1920 | 30 | |
| Missouri | 1891 | 1919 | 28 | |
| Montana | 1889 | 1914 | 25 | |
| Nebraska | 1891 | 1917 | 26 | |
| Nevada | 1891 | 1914 | 23 | |
| New Hampshire | 1891 | 1920 | 29 | |
| New Jersey | 1911 | 1920 | 9 | |
| New Mexico | 1912 | 1920 | 8 | |
| New York | 1895 | 1917 | 22 | |
| North Carolina | 1929 | 1929 | 0 | Later than federal elections due to the late introduction of the secret ballot. |
| North Dakota | 1891 | 1917 | 26 | |
| Ohio | 1891 | 1919 | 28 | |
| Oklahoma | 1890 | 1918 | 28 | |
| Oregon | 1891 | 1912 | 21 | |
| Pennsylvania | 1891 | 1920 | 29 | |
| Rhode Island | 1889 | 1917 | 28 | |
| South Carolina | 1950 | 1950 | 0 | Later than federal elections due to the late introduction of the secret ballot. |
| South Dakota | 1891 | 1918 | 27 | |
| Tennessee | 1921 | 1921 | 0 | Later than federal elections due to the late introduction of the secret ballot. |
| Texas | 1905 | 1918 | 13 | |
| Utah | 1896 | 1896 | 0 | Became a state in 1896. |
| Vermont | 1890 | 1920 | 30 | |
| Virginia | 1894 | 1920 | 26 | |
| Washington | 1890 | 1910 | 20 | |
| West Virginia | 1891 | 1920 | 29 | |
| Wisconsin | 1894 | 1919 | 25 | |
| Wyoming | 1890 | 1890 | 0 | Became a state in 1890. |