Difference between revisions of "Suffrage"
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| + | Enfranchisement, or the right to vote, is an important right in any democracy. Societies routinely exclude some sectors of the community from voting and this is entirely consistent with international norms. Normally voting in a democracy is open to citizens that have reached the ''age of majority''. In many countries today that is 18 years. Citizens may be excluded from voting if they have resided out side of the country for an extended period, if they have been convicted of or incarcerated for serious offences. Prohibiting individuals from voting in this manner is considered to be consistent with international standards today.<ref> |
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It is widely believed today that when women were enfranchised they achieved a state that men had enjoyed for a long time. This is a myth. In many countries men achieved the vote only a few years before women. In Britain, for example, men became fully enfranchised in 1918 and women in 1928. Had women been fully enfranchised in 1918 along with men they would have constituted a majority of voters. Some historians think this was the reason why full enfranchisement for women was delayed. |
It is widely believed today that when women were enfranchised they achieved a state that men had enjoyed for a long time. This is a myth. In many countries men achieved the vote only a few years before women. In Britain, for example, men became fully enfranchised in 1918 and women in 1928. Had women been fully enfranchised in 1918 along with men they would have constituted a majority of voters. Some historians think this was the reason why full enfranchisement for women was delayed. |
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| + | == References == |
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| + | <references> |
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Revision as of 04:44, 11 December 2014
Enfranchisement, or the right to vote, is an important right in any democracy. Societies routinely exclude some sectors of the community from voting and this is entirely consistent with international norms. Normally voting in a democracy is open to citizens that have reached the age of majority. In many countries today that is 18 years. Citizens may be excluded from voting if they have resided out side of the country for an extended period, if they have been convicted of or incarcerated for serious offences. Prohibiting individuals from voting in this manner is considered to be consistent with international standards today.<ref>
It is widely believed today that when women were enfranchised they achieved a state that men had enjoyed for a long time. This is a myth. In many countries men achieved the vote only a few years before women. In Britain, for example, men became fully enfranchised in 1918 and women in 1928. Had women been fully enfranchised in 1918 along with men they would have constituted a majority of voters. Some historians think this was the reason why full enfranchisement for women was delayed.
References
<references>