In a democracy why Universal Adult Franchise is important?

A universal adult franchise is outlined in Article 326 as the foundation for elections to all levels of elected government. All citizens who are 18 years of age and older, regardless of caste, education, religion, race, or color, are eligible to vote under the concept of the universal adult franchise. A universal adult franchise is crucial in a democracy since it is founded on the ideal of equality. It declares that each adult citizen has one vote, regardless of their financial situation or the community they are a part of. The universal adult franchise has been approved by the Indian Constitution as the foundation for elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

Importance of Universal Adult Franchise

Universal Adult Franchise

With a few minor exceptions, universal adult suffrage guarantees that every adult citizen has the right to vote, regardless of their resources, money, gender, social standing, color, ethnicity, political attitude, or any other constraint. India, a supporter of political equality, was successful in removing obstacles that prevented adult voters from exercising their right to vote.

Background

1. In the years prior to India’s independence, only 13% of Indian citizens were eligible to vote.
2. The push for full adult suffrage was picking some steam a few decades before independence.
3. One of the first reports to support unrestricted adult franchises and equal rights for women was the Motilal Nehru report.
4. When Dr. B.R. Ambedkar testified before the Simon Commission in 1928, he pushed for the Indian Constitution to include a universal adult franchise.
5. Later, the Indian National Congress demanded political equality at the Karachi session in 1931.
6. The party claims that it would be a crucial step toward increasing electoral participation and inclusivity.
7. On the basis of the universal adult franchise, India started preparing the first draught electoral roll in November 1947.
8. When the current constitution was passed in 1949 and put into effect on January 26, 1950, India adopted the idea of universal adult suffrage.

Constitutional Provisions

1. The legal age to vote varies from nation to nation. Our nation currently requires that franchisees be at least 18 years old to exercise their rights.
2. The 61st Amendment Act of 1989 lowered the legal voting age from 21 to 18.

Importance in Democracy

In spite of these difficulties, and before they were granted citizenship with the adoption of the constitution, it took a lot of creativity to register every adult Indian as a voter. India’s bold decolonization action was this. By the end of 1949, India had expanded the boundaries of democratic thought and given birth to the greatest democracy in history. The introduction of the universal franchise was the catalyst for the emergence of electoral democracy in India.

At the opening of the constitutional discussions in April 1947, unrestricted adult suffrage was adopted, marking a substantial break from colonial practice. By allowing women the right to vote, it not only brought about gender equality but also ended untouchability and insured that those from lower socioeconomic groups had equal access to possibilities. The idea of universal adult suffrage and the principles of fair and impartial voting are seen as protectors of minority rights.

The poor obtained the opportunity to select political leaders and widened the scope of local administration by gaining the right to vote for all residents. Infrastructure growth and enhanced prosperity at the local level are the direct outcomes. The representation of underrepresented groups in Parliament is another important development over time. People from those communities have begun to make up a larger portion of Parliament and have assumed the position of the voice of the oppressed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1. Why do we have representatives in most democracies?

Answer-

Because not everyone has the time or the expertise to make choices on every issue, most democracies allow people to rule through their representatives.

Q 2. What is an election?

Answer-

It is a system that allows people to elect representatives on a regular basis and replace them if they so want.

Q 3. How can we ensure that elections are held in a democratic manner?

Answer-

1. Everyone ought to have the option. Every vote should count equally and each person should only be allowed one vote.
2. Elections must be held frequently, and there must be a sufficient number of parties and candidates for voters to choose from.