After the declaration of independence in 1776, individual states enacted constutions that regulated voting rights. About half the states attempted to reform their voting procedures. The trend in these states was to do away with the freehold requirement in favor of granting all taxpaying, free, adult males the right to vote. Since few men escaped paying taxes of some sort, suffrage (the right to vote) expanded in these states. Vermont’s constitution went even further in 1777 when it became the first state to grant universal manhood suffrage (i.e., all adult males could vote). Some states also abolished religious tests for voting. It was in New Jersey that an apparently accidental phrase in the new state constitution permitted women to vote in substantial numbers for the first time in American history. And the subsequential ironic verse that could entertain the idea of women voting.
“Of Government in Petticoats!!!”
Then freedom hail! thy powers prevail
o’er prejudice and error;
No longer shall man tyrannize,
and rule the world in terror:
Now one and all, proclaim the fall
of Tyrants! – Open wide your throats,
And welcome in the peaceful scene,
of government in petticoats!!!
The provision on suffrage in the New Jersey state constitution of 1776 granted the right to vote to “all inhabitants” who were of legal age (21), owned property worth 50 English pounds (not necessarily a freehold), and resided in a county for at least one year. No one is sure what was meant by “all inhabitants” since the New Jersey constitutional convention was held in secret. This provision was then used as a national statute. It restricted the eligibility of voters and removed voting rights for women.
Moreover, in 1789 each Elector selected Washington with one of his votes, effectively making him unanimous choice for President. By coming in 2nd, John Adams was named Vice-President. This is reflected in the map above.
https://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-8-1-b-who-voted-in-early-america