QUIZ: Did All Women Really Get the Vote in 1920?

We promise this is true: New Jersey actually let women vote from 1776 to 1807. Researchers found evidence in old poll lists that women turned out to vote. Because of the wording in the state constitution at the time, it’s likely that Black men and women were also able to vote.

We promise this is true: New Jersey actually let women vote from 1776 to 1807. Researchers found evidence in old poll lists that women turned out to vote. Because of the wording in the state constitution at the time, it’s likely that Black men and women were also able to vote.

Partial credit if you selected 1869: That’s when women in the Wyoming Territory won the right to vote.

A pamphlet was written in 1866 to refute all of these ridiculous arguments, and many more as well.

A pamphlet was written in 1866 to refute all of these ridiculous arguments, and many more as well.

The 19th Amendment technically applied to all women, but in reality, only white women were really able to benefit from it.

The 19th Amendment technically applied to all women, but in reality, only white women were really able to benefit from it.

Large parts of the women’s suffrage movement were unconcerned about suffrage for non-white women. Some activists were on record saying that they thought it was unfair for Black men to get the vote before white women. In the South, women’s suffrage proponents even aligned themselves with white supremacist groups to gain favor. Black women played a huge role in rallying support for women’s suffrage, but many felt betrayed when white women refused to support them in their own struggle against racist Jim Crow voter-suppression laws.

Large parts of the women’s suffrage movement were unconcerned about suffrage for non-white women. Some activists were on record saying that they thought it was unfair for Black men to get the vote before white women. In the South, women’s suffrage proponents even aligned themselves with white supremacist groups to gain favor. Black women played a huge role in rallying support for women’s suffrage, but many felt betrayed when white women refused to support them in their own struggle against racist Jim Crow voter-suppression laws.

Native American men and women who didn’t live on reservations (i.e., those who paid taxes) won the right to vote in 1924 with the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act. For Native Americans living on reservations, their voting rights weren’t secured in every state until 1962. Think about that for a moment: 1962!

Native American men and women who didn’t live on reservations (i.e., those who paid taxes) won the right to vote in 1924 with the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act. For Native Americans living on reservations, their voting rights weren’t secured in every state until 1962. Think about that for a moment: 1962!

Asian-American men and women who were immigrants could not become citizens, and therefore could not vote, until the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1952.

Asian-American men and women who were immigrants could not become citizens, and therefore could not vote, until the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1952.

In 1920, you had to be 21 to vote. The passage of the 26th Amendment in 1971 lowered the voting age to 18.

In 1920, you had to be 21 to vote. The passage of the 26th Amendment in 1971 lowered the voting age to 18.

While Black women might have technically won the right to vote in 1920, barriers such as poll taxes, literacy tests, property ownership requirements, and grandfather clauses made it almost impossible for them (and Black men too, of course) to vote. Things changed with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 1964 women of color made up 5% of voters, while by 2012 they made up 15%.

While Black women might have technically won the right to vote in 1920, barriers such as poll taxes, literacy tests, property ownership requirements, and grandfather clauses made it almost impossible for them (and Black men too, of course) to vote. Things changed with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 1964 women of color made up 5% of voters, while by 2012 they made up 15%.

By 1966, 60% of eligible Black women were registered to vote, compared with 71% of all other eligible voters. By 2012, 76% of Black women were registered, while everyone else remained at 71%.

By 1966, 60% of eligible Black women were registered to vote, compared with 71% of all other eligible voters. By 2012, 76% of Black women were registered, while everyone else remained at 71%.

The Supreme Court’s Shelby v. Holder ruling gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013, leading some states to erect new barriers to keep Black and Brown Americans from voting. Black women’s voting rights have been hit hard. Studies have shown that voter ID laws, for example, disproportionately impact Black women and trans women. Not only that, hundreds of thousands of Black women are barred from voting today because they were once convicted of a felony. Clearly, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure voting rights for all women.

The Supreme Court’s Shelby v. Holder ruling gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013, leading some states to erect new barriers to keep Black and Brown Americans from voting. Black women’s voting rights have been hit hard. Studies have shown that voter ID laws, for example, disproportionately impact Black women and trans women. Not only that, hundreds of thousands of Black women are barred from voting today because they were once convicted of a felony. Clearly, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure voting rights for all women.