What Is Adult Franchise?

Adult franchise is the universal right of all adult citizens to vote for the formation of a responsible government one that will be accountable to the people. The right to vote in adult franchise is free from discriminations on the basis of gender, religion, race, financial and social status or any other parameter.

In adult franchise the only criterion is the age of the citizen whether one is an adult or not, which in most countries means a person above the age of 18. Adult franchise is the basic feature of democracy and not only includes the voting rights of the people but also enables all citizens to participate in the government if they wish to.

Adult franchise has evolved through history; in the past only titled citizens possessing property had the right to vote. Later on most adult males who were free citizens were given the right to vote though the required age was at least 24.

Women in earlier times were denied voting rights and it was only after large scale movements by various women activist known as suffragettes that women gained the right to vote. In later times the compulsory age required for the right to vote was lowered from 24 to 18.