Suffrage facts for kids
Suffrage is a special word that means the right to vote. When people have suffrage, they can choose their leaders. They also help make important decisions for their country or community. Today, most countries let their citizens vote once they are legally adults. This usually means they are 18 years old or older.
In the past, not everyone was allowed to vote. Many people were stopped from voting because of their race or gender. But now, most countries do not stop people from voting based on these things.
Contents
What is Suffrage?
Suffrage is a basic right in many democracies. It allows citizens to have a say in how they are governed. It is how people choose who will represent them in government. This includes choosing people for Parliament or Congress.
Who Could Vote in the Past?
For a long time, only certain groups of people could vote.
- In many places, only men who owned land could vote.
- Women were often not allowed to vote. This changed after many years of effort by groups like the suffragettes.
- People of different races were also often stopped from voting. This was a big problem in many countries.
Suffrage Today
Today, the idea of suffrage is much wider. Most countries now believe that all adult citizens should have the right to vote. This means that a person's gender, race, or how much money they have does not stop them from voting. This is called universal suffrage. It means almost everyone can vote.
The Right to Run for Office
Suffrage can also mean more than just voting. It can also mean the right to be a public official. This means the right to run for an election. Some people call this "candidate eligibility." It means you are allowed to be a candidate in an election.
Full suffrage means both the right to vote and the right to try to get elected. It means you can vote for others, and others can vote for you.
See also
In Spanish: Sufragio para niños
