Universal Suffrage - Notable Dates For Universal Suffrage in The World

Notable Dates For Universal Suffrage in The World

States have granted and revoked universal suffrage at various times.

Note: The table can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the icon.

Universal suffrage by country/territory
Year Country / Territory Notes
1792 - 1875 France In 1792, the Convention assembly is elected by all males 25 and over. Over the subsequent 82 years, France experienced profound political upheaval, with republican, monarchist and bonapartist government governing at various times, and the introduction, repeal and reintroduction of various degrees of universal, property and census-based suffrage. The turmoil in the extent of the franchise was ended by the Constitutional Law of 1875, which provided universal male suffrage that has survived to this day.
1848 Switzerland At the formation of the federal state and with the Constitution of 1848, Switzerland becomes the first modern state to introduce universal male suffrage right that has been unbroken and continuous since its adoption
1850s Self-governing colonies of Australia In 1855, the parliament of the self-governing Colony of South Australia enacted legislation making provision for universal male suffrage. The parliaments of the Colony of Victoria and the Colony of New South Wales followed suit by enacting legislation providing universal male suffrage in 1857 and 1858 respectively.
1893 New Zealand With the extension of voting rights to women in 1893, the self-governing British colony became first permanently-constituted jurisdiction in the world to grant universal adult suffrage., suffrage previously having been universal for Māori men over 21 from 1867, and for European males from 1879.
1894 Colony of South Australia In 1894 the parliament of the Colony of South Australia enacted legislation providing a full and universal adult franchise; the right of all adults of the age of majority to vote in elections, and for any elector to stand for high office.
1902 Commonwealth of Australia In 1901, the self-governing colonies of Australia joined together in a federal structure of states. In 1902, the new federal parliament legislated for a universal adult franchise and the right of electors to stand for and occupy any office for which they could directly vote.
1906 Grand Principality of Finland As an autonomous Grand Principality in the Russian Empire, Finland achieved women's suffrage in 1906, becoming the second country in the world to adopt universal suffrage. The Finnish parliamentary election of 1907 was the first time when women were elected (19 of 200 MPs). Finland became independent with the same universal suffrage in 1917.
1912 Argentina Universal, secret and mandatory suffrage for male citizens over 18 years of age was granted by Sáenz Peña Law.
1913 Norway Full male suffrage in 1898, with women included in 1913.
1915 Denmark First voting rights to anyone came in 1849, and the rules were changed a number of times. But it was not until the change of the constitution in 1915 that all men and women had influence on all chambers.
1917 Estonia Two tiered elections were held, with 62 representatives from rural communities and towns elected in May–June and July–August, respectively.
1918 Germany After the Central Powers' defeat in World War I and the introduction of a democratic system, the Weimar Republic. Revoked during 1935–1945 by the Nuremberg Laws. The restrictions applied also to the territories occupied by the Nazis during World War II. The German Empire (and the North German Confederation before it) had had universal male suffrage since 1867/71, which then has been one of the most progressive election laws.
1918 Austria After the Central Powers' defeat in World War I universal suffrage including women.
1918 First Czechoslovak Republic After the Central Powers' defeat in World War I universal suffrage including women.
1918 Kingdom of Hungary After the Central Powers' defeat in World War I
1918 Second Polish Republic Universal suffrage for men and women over 21.
1918 Soviet Union With the 1918 Soviet Constitution; direct voting and the lifting of some political restrictions not until the 1936 Soviet Constitution.
1919 Azerbaijan Democratic Republic became part of the Soviet Union in 1920
1919 Democratic Republic of Armenia became part of the Soviet Union in 1920
1919 Democratic Republic of Georgia became part of the Soviet Union in 1921
1919 Latvia Universal suffrage introduced in Law of elections to the Constituent assembly
1919 Luxembourg
1919 Netherlands From 1917 full suffrage for men aged 23 and above. From 1919 universal suffrage for men and women aged 23. From 1971 suffrage for men and women aged 18 and older.
1919 Sweden Full male suffrage 1909 for those aged 25 and above, but only to one of two equally weighed chambers. Universal suffrage for men and women later enacted.
1922 Lithuania
1922 Republic of Ireland Then known as the Irish Free State, the country changed previous British law to enfranchise women equally with men in 1921.
1925 Newfoundland Joined Canada in 1949.
1928 United Kingdom Universal suffrage for all men in 1918 (in national elections). Women granted vote for first time in the same year but about 25% of women were excluded on property grounds until 1928, granting women the vote on the same terms as men. The Representation of the People Act of 1948 removed multiple voting (i.e. established one person, one vote) and extended suffrage to local elections (apart from Northern Ireland where the situation was brought in line in 1968.)
1931 Ceylon (now as Sri Lanka) Universal suffrage for all irrespective of race, ethnicity, language, or gender.
1932 Brazil Replaced the previous system of male suffrage, from 1891, which excluded homeless, women, priests, the military and illiterates.
1933 Thailand Universal suffrage for all since the first general election in 1933.
1933 Spain Suffrage for men practiced since 1869 to 1923 and in the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1936). On November 19, 1933 women were granted the right to vote. Revoked during Franco era (1939–1975) and recovered since 1977 in the new Spanish Constitution.
1934 Turkey
1935 Burma Last free elections held in 1990.
1943 Lebanon Universal suffrage for all adult males and females since the independence of Lebanon (The Chamber of Deputies is shared equally between Christians and Muslims, rather than elected by universal suffrage that would have provided a Muslim majority).
1944 France Universal adult suffrage introduced
1944 Jamaica Universal adult suffrage introduced
1945 Bulgaria Universal suffrage including women and men serving in the Army was instituted by the government of the Fatherland front.
1945 Japan Universal adult suffrage introduced
1945 Italy Universal adult suffrage introduced
1947 Republic of China (now Taiwan) Universal suffrage under the Constitution of the Republic of China
1947 Argentina The General Election Law of 1912 was amended to include female citizens
1947/1953 Mexico Universal suffrage given to men after the Mexican Revolution; suffrage given to women in municipal elections in 1947 and national elections in 1953. In 1996, Mexicans living in the United States were also given voting rights.
1948 United Nations Provision of "universal and equal suffrage" in Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1948 Israel Universal suffrage since the founding of the State of Israel.
1948 South Korea Universal suffrage since the founding of the Republic of Korea
1948 Belgium Universal suffrage for Women for Parliament elections
1949 Chile From 1925 full suffrage for men aged 21 and above and able to read and write. From 1949 universal suffrage for men and women aged 21 and above and able to read and write. From 1970 suffrage for men and women aged 18 and older.
1950 India All adult citizens as recognized by the Constitution of India, irrespective of race or gender on the founding of the Republic of India
1951 Ghana Universal suffrage granted for the 1951 legislative election.
1952 Bolivia Universal suffrage granted by decree; first elections in 1956; women's suffrage coincided with abolition of literacy requirements.
1952 Greece Universal male suffrage in 1864, with secret ballot; women given the vote in local elections since 1930 and in parliamentary elections since 1952.
1955 Indonesia
1955 Malaysia
1956 Colombia Electorate defined on the basis of adult franchise and joint electorate.
1956 Pakistan
1960 Canada In 1920, Canada (excluding Quebec until 1940) enacted suffrage for both sexes. First Nations (of either sex) were not allowed to vote until 1960.
1963 Iran Reforms under Shah's "White Revolution"
1964 Afghanistan Constitution transformed Afghanistan into a modern democracy.
1965 United States In 1870 the 15th Amendment granted suffrage to African Americans, and in 1920 the 19th Amendment extended the franchise to women. However, many Southern States pro-actively disenfranchised black voters through poll taxation, literacy tests and bureaucratic loopholes. Full enfranchisement was realized in 1965 with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the ratification of the 24th Amendment in 1964.
1971 Switzerland Introduction of women's suffrage at the federal level; for cantonal elections this was not completed until 1990.
1974 Portugal
1979 European Community (now European Union)
1980 Zimbabwe Universal suffrage was introduced in the 1978 Internal Settlement between Ian Smith and Abel Muzorewa. The 1979 Lancaster House constitution agreed to accommodate the nationalists also affirmed universal suffrage but with a special role for whites. Universal suffrage with no special consideration for race came in 1987. Previous to 1978, Rhodesia (what Zimbabwe was named before 1980) had a merit qualification in order to vote. This was controversial because, by virtue, it excluded the vast majority of native Africans.
1984 Liechtenstein
1990 Samoa
1994 South Africa universal suffrage not regarding race or colour of skin; Blacks and Coloureds were denied the right to vote during the Apartheid era (1948–1994). White women's suffrage granted in 1930.
1996 Taiwan See above 1947 Republic of China.
2002 Bahrain Universal male suffrage in 1973, although parliament was suspended and dissolved in 1975 for approximately 30 years.
2003 Oman
2005 Kuwait Universal adult male suffrage since 1962, for citizens who are 21 or older, with the exception of those who, at the time of elections, serve in the armed forces and, citizens who have been naturalized for fewer than 30 years. Note: As of 2005, women who satisfy the age and citizenship requirements are allowed to vote provided both men and women vote in separate polling locations.
2008 Bhutan
2013 Qatar Municipal elections since 1999.
2015 Saudi Arabia Municipal elections since 2005 (men only).
2017 (planned) Hong Kong

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