All told, women will occupy 22.5 percent of the 7,382 seats in state legislatures in the United States. According to the NCSL, that ratio has remained consistant over the past five years. In 2003, 1,641 of the 7,382 seats in state legislatures were held by women, for a total of 22.2 percent.

New Hampshire leads the nation in the sheer number of women legislators following the November elections, with 129 of the  424 seats in the state's two houses being occupied by women. However, most women--124 of the 129--serve in the Assembly. Only five women serve in the state's senate. In terms of percentage of women serving in the state legislature, however, New Hampshire ranks 11th.

Figures for the ten states with the largest percentages of women in their state legislatures fall within a narrow range--from 30.8 percent to 34 percent.

Proportionally, Maryland and Colorado have the greatest percentage of women serving in state legislatures: 34 percent for both. In Maryland, 64 of the state legislature's 188 seats are held by women--49 in the lower chamber and 15 in the upper chamber. Colorado has 34 women of its 100 state legislators, 23 in the lower chamber and 11 in the upper chamber.

Rounding out the top ten states with the greatest percentage of women serving in the legislature are (with the percentages of women serving): Deleware, 33.9; Washington state, 33.3; Vermont, 33.3; Arizona, 33.3; Kansas, 32.1; Nevada, 31.7; New Mexico, 31.3 and California, 30.8.

Not surprisingly, eight southern or southwestern states comprise most of the ten states with the lease percentages of women serving in state legislatures.

South Carolina has the lowest percentage of women serving in its state legislature of any state: 8.8 percent. A total of 15 women serve in the state's legislature, with 14 in the lower chamber and one in the upper chamber. The state has a total of 170 seats in its legislative bodies.

Other states at the bottom of the pack include (with percentages): Alabama, 10; Kentucky, 12.3; Mississippi, 12.6; Pennsylvania (one of only two non-southern or southwestern states) 12.6; Virginia, 14.3; Wyoming (the only other non southern or southwestern state) 14.4; Oklahoma, 14.8; Arkansas, 15.6; West Virginia, 15.7.