In this article you will learn about the Universal Adult Franchise in Political Science.
Universal Adult Franchise
The principle of Universal Adult Franchise or Universal Adult Suffrage has now received universal acceptance in all democratic states as the best principle of giving the right to vote to the citizens of the state. This principle stands for the grant of right to vote (franchise or suffrage) to all adult citizens, both men as well as women including transgender. Further Universal Adult Franchise stands for giving the right to vote to all citizens without any discrimination. Only a minimum age qualification is to be fixed. In contemporary times, and in all democratic states all men and women of 18 or 20 or 21 years old and above enjoy the right to vote. In India all citizens, who are adults i.e. who are 18 years old or above of age, have the right to vote. So is the case in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and in fact all liberal democratic states.
Further, while no property, sex, and educational qualifications are now fixed for granting the right to vote, it is a universal practice to deny the right to role to minors, bankrupts, criminals, mentally unsound people and some others who have earned any disqualification for one reason or the other. Minors are denied the right to vote until they attain their adulthood. When they cross the legally fixed adulthood age, as for example in India when they attain the age of 18 years old, they get the franchise. India has a population of more than 125 crores and the number of persons enjoying the right to vote is more than 80 crores, and it is progressively increasing.
Reasons behind the Acceptance of Universal Adult Franchise
In the contemporary age of democracy, the principle of Universal Adult Franchise involving the grant of right to franchise to all adult citizens without any discrimination, has earned a universal acceptance and following. In every liberal democratic state the right to vote is granted to every adult citizen who has attained the minimum age fixed under the Universal Adult Franchise Principle. He then gets registered as a voter and uses his right to vote in elections held thereafter.
The following have been the main arguments in support of Universal Adult Franchise.
1. Fully in tune with the theory of Democracy : Democracy is the government of all the people of state. This naturally needs the grant of the right to franchise to all the people. Democracy essentially needs a Universal Adult Franchise.
2. Justified on the basis of Right to Equality : Right to equality means legal, social, political and economical equality of all the people. Universal Adult Franchise is based on the principle of equality of all.
3. Ensures greater participation of the people in Politics : Universal Adult Franchise ensures equal and full participation of all men and women in the organisation and working of their government. Politics relates to all, hence all must get the right to participate in it.
4. Signifies the equal citizenship of all the people of the state : Citizenship of the state is the property of every member of the state. Equal citizenship stands for equal rights. Universal Adult Franchise signifies equal political rights of all the citizens who constitute the state.
5. Laws of the State equally apply to all the persons, therefore all should get the right to vote : Since laws of the state are binding on all the citizens, it is natural and essential that all the people should have the right to vote. “Laws apply to all, and the right to franchise must be available to all men and women.”
6. Universal Adult Franchise is a great means of Political Education : People can learn their political beliefs, values and orientation through participation in politics. For this purpose Universal Adult-Franchise always provides opportunity to the people to become aware of the issues and problems being faced by their country.
7. Source of Stability and Better Obedience of Laws : When all men and women use their right to vote and other political rights, they become willing partners of the political process. This leads to a better obedience of laws by them, which ensures political stability.
8. Means of National Integration : When all the people exercise their right to vote and collectively participate in the process of organising a democratic government, they naturally get integrated into one nation.
9. Less Chance of Revolution : Under the system of Universal Adult Franchise, all the people get involved in the political process by using their right to vote and other political rights. They also change their governments by using their right to vote. As such, there felt no need for a change of rulers through a revolution. The elected government enjoys the confidence of all the people.
10. Everyone pays taxes, therefore everyone should get the right to vote and all other rights : The state levies taxes on all the people. All the people are duty bound to pay all direct and indirect taxes. Therefore, it is essential that everyone should get equal rights, and it must include the right to vote.
11. Source of Support for the Community : Grant of Universal Adult Franchise to the citizens acts as a support system for community-living. All the people feel legal and political equality. They develop a natural love for their community. They support their political community (i.e. state) which grants them the right to participate in the election of the government.
12. Encourages the Minorities to feel secure as equal citizens with an equal right to vote : The grant of equal right to franchise to all adult citizens belonging to both majority and minority communities creates a feeling of securing among the minorities. As equal partners in political life of the state, the members of minority communities get encouraged for an active participation in national mainstream politics.
13. Basic for the use of all other rights : J.S. Mill holds that the right to franchise of all citizens is a basic right. It is a valuable property of each citizen. Without it, other political rights and freedoms become meaningless. Universal Adult Franchise leads to a better enjoyment of all rights by all the people.
14. Source of Dignity of the Individual and Unity and Integrity of the Nation : Along with the grant of social, economic and cultural rights, the grant of the right to vote to all the people promotes a sense of self-esteem and dignity among them. It also acts as a means for securing the objectives of fraternity among the people and unity and integrity of the nation.
15. Symbol of Popular Sovereignty : Finally, the supporters of Universal Adult Franchise describe it as a symbol of sovereignty of the people. It enables the people to act as sovereign people in the process of forming the government of their state.
On the basis of all these arguments, the supporters of Universal Adult Franchise strongly advocate a formidable and effective case in favour of the equal right to vote for all the adult persons, both men and women.
This article on Universal Adult Franchise in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.