Enfranchisement

Enfranchisement is the process of granting a person or group the right to participate in political life, especially the right to vote. It is the opposite of disenfranchisement, which removes or denies such rights. Enfranchisement can be achieved through legislation, constitutional amendment, or changes in customary law, and may apply to individuals (naturalized citizens) or entire groups (women, racial or ethnic minorities, or residents of a territory).

Historically, enfranchisement has proceeded in stages. The abolition of slavery in the 19th century and successive civil-rights measures expanded the electorate for formerly enslaved and marginalized populations. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sustained campaigns for women's suffrage, culminating in many countries granting women the vote. In the United States, the 15th, 19th, and 24th amendments, and the Voting Rights Act, are key milestones.

In modern democracies, enfranchisement is tied to citizenship and legal residency, but practices vary. Some jurisdictions allow non-citizens to vote in local elections; others restrict the franchise to citizens. Some states restore voting rights after criminal conviction; others maintain permanent disenfranchisement. Debates continue over eligibility, voting access, and the balance between equal rights and safeguards against fraud.

Enfranchisement remains a central topic in the theory and practice of representative government.