Legal Definitions - elective franchise

The elective franchise refers to the fundamental right of a citizen to vote in public elections. This right empowers individuals to participate in the democratic process by choosing their government representatives and influencing public policy through the ballot box.

• Example 1: During a municipal election, a resident named David goes to his local polling place and casts his ballot for candidates running for mayor, city council, and school board. By doing so, David is exercising his elective franchise, directly participating in the democratic process to choose his local leaders.

• Example 2: In the mid-20th century, civil rights activists in the United States fought for the right of all citizens, regardless of race, to register and vote without discriminatory barriers. The passage of legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 significantly protected and expanded the elective franchise for millions, ensuring their ability to participate equally in elections.

• Example 3: A country's electoral laws state that only citizens aged 18 or older who have registered to vote by a specific deadline are eligible to cast a ballot in national elections. These legal provisions define the parameters for who possesses and can exercise the elective franchise within that nation, setting the conditions for participation in its political system.