Meaning of Universal Adult Suffrage (Franchise) | Advantages and Disadvantages of Universal Adult Suffrage (Franchise)

MEANING OF UNLIMITED SUFFRAGE (FRANCHISE) 

Unlimited suffrage is also known as universal adult suffrage. It is legal Instruments that allows only qualified candidates to vote or to be voted irrespective of their sex, religion, party, etc.

The universal suffrage does not set any restrictions to the types of people who can vote or be voted in an election.

QUALIFICATIONS OF UNIVERSAL ADULT SUFFRAGE (FRANCHISE) 

1. The candidate must be 18 years old. In Nigeria, USA and Britain is 18 years old while Germany is 20 years old.

2. The candidate must be a citizen of the country he/she represented.

3. The candidate must register to vote or to be voted for.

4. The candidate must have certain sense of reasoning.

5. The candidate must be a resident of a community to enjoy the voting right of that community. For example – the local government chairman. This also applicable to the states in Nigeria.

ADVANTAGES OF UNIVERSAL ADULT SUFFRAGE (FRANCHISE) 

1. Qualified candidates are allowed to vote and to be voted for.

2. It is democratic and constitutional.

3. It promotes equity.

4. It is free and fair play.

5. It doesn’t allow discrimination.

6. It encourages larger political participation.

7. It protects minority interests

8. It ensures accountability.

9. It promotes the principle of one man one vote.

10. It promotes national unity.

11. It confers legitimacy on government.

12. It promotes representative and inclusive government.

DISADVANTAGES OF UNIVERSAL ADULT SUFFRAGE (FRANCHISE) 

1. It is expensive.

2. Illiterates can misuse their votes.

3. Vote buying and selling.

4. Voting may not be objective.

5. Danger of electing incompetent people into power.

QUESTIONS 

1. define adult suffrage.

2. mention five qualifications for adult suffrage.

3. outline five advantages of adult suffrage.

4. state five disadvantages of adult suffrage.