Well, it was a territory at the time, but in 1869 Wyoming became the first U.S. state to not only allow women to vote, but also to run for office, shortly followed by Utah in 1870. The territories became states in 1890 and 1896, respectively. By 1920, the entire United States embraced women's suffrage when President Woodrow Wilson passed the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Before the hanging chad:
- New Jersey may actually be considered the first U.S. state to allow women to vote. From 1790 until 1807, women who met the proper property requirements were allowed to vote. This was rescinded in 1807, however.
- New Zealand was the first country to allow women to vote in 1893, but women couldn't run for office until 1919.
- The first country to award full suffrage was Finland in 1906.
- Places that still don't embrace suffrage include Saudi Arabia and Vatican City — but to be fair, most men can't vote in Vatican City either.