Suffrage

Suffrage refers to the right to vote in political elections and is often described as the franchise. The term suffrage derives from Latin suffragium, meaning a vote, support, or decree; in modern usage, suffrage denotes the right to participate in elections.

Historically, suffrage has been restricted by gender, race, property, religion, or class. In ancient Athens, only free male citizens could vote; during the medieval and early modern periods, many places limited ballots to landowners or church members. The modern expansion began in the 18th–19th centuries as ideas of citizenship and equality spread, with reform acts and legal changes gradually broadening the eligible electorate.

The 19th and early 20th centuries saw decisive expansions: examples include New Zealand granting women's suffrage in 1893; the United States adopting the 15th and 19th Amendments and later civil rights legislation; the United Kingdom extending franchise through Reform Acts in 1832, 1867, and 1884, and then women’s suffrage in 1918 (partial) and 1928 (equal). Australia enacted a nationwide reform in 1902 granting women the vote, with further adjustments over time.

Today, universal suffrage generally refers to all adult citizens having the right to vote, with variations by jurisdiction (citizenship, age limits, residency, criminal status). Some countries also allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, and some require compulsory voting. International norms recognize voting as a human right under instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.