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.
| 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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