Page 168 - SST Class 06
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FRANCHISE shoulder-to-shoulder with men; and in some,
they are excelling over men. We have great
By the word ‘franchise’ is meant the ‘right to vote leaders in all fields—Indira Gandhi, Sarojini
in elections’. Generally, in a democratic country, Naidu, Hema Malini, Sania Mirza, Indira
all adult members of the society are given the Nooyi and many, many more. The women
right to vote in elections. This is called universal have become all the more aware after seats
adult franchise. However, all adult members may were reserved for them in local-self
not be given this right in certain countries. For governments.
example, in Britain, the women were not given
this right in the beginning, now they enjoy this Arguments in Favour of Universal Adult
right. Franchise
q Some people are of the opinion that all adult
Need for Universal Adult Franchise
people in a country should be given the right
In India, all people above the age of 18 years have to vote. They give the following arguments :
the right to vote in elections.
When you attain 18 years of q The people are the source of sovereignty.
age, you will have this right, for q The laws and policies formulated by the
this you will have to get your government affect the people directly or
name included in the electoral indirectly.
rolls. Some people are not q The laws and policies are formulated by the
given this right, such as those A woman representatives on behalf of the people.
who do not reside in India. casting vote
q If all people have the right to vote, the
Arguments Against Universal Adult
representatives will keep them in view while
Franchise
taking decisions.
Some people say that all people should not be q The right to vote makes all citizens equal
given the right to vote. They say that only certain whether they are rich or poor, high or low,
sections of the people should be given this right.
man or woman, Hindu or Muslim.
They give the following arguments :
q The right to vote makes people aware of their
q Some people say that the illiterate people rights and they start to evaluate the
should not be given the right to vote as they
performance of the government, so the
cannot understand the complicacies of the
government has to be careful in its
government. We do not agree with this functioning.
argument as we have seen in India that people
have become politically aware and can judge q The right to vote cultivates a sense of unity
the functioning of the government well. among all citizens.
Moreover, the literacy rate is going up with Quest for Universal Adult Franchise
each passing year.
In the ancient and medieval times in the whole
q Some people say that the poor people should world, some rulers looked after the welfare of the
not be given this right as they can be bribed to people, but many of them did not. They did what
vote for particular candidates. We have seen in they liked, least caring for the will of the people.
India that people are very mature in this This was the reason that the people wanted to
respect also. have a say in the government. The movement for
q Some people say that women should not be universal adult franchise started at a very small
given the right to vote as they cannot scale. At first, the ruler appointed some ministers
understand politics well. However, we have or advisors; in some countries, the ruler ruled with
seen that women are working in all fields the help of a council of ministers or advisors.
Contemporary Social Science-6
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