Franchise/Suffrage SS2 Government Lesson Note

MEANING OF FRANCHISE

Franchise may be defined as the right of qualified adult citizens of a given society to vote and be voted for in an election. The voters are constitutionally called the electorate while those seeking to be elected are called candidates.

TYPES OF FRANCHISE

There are two types of franchises namely; 

1. Limited/ restricted franchise and 
2. Unlimited/ universal franchise/ universal adult suffrage.

1. Limited Or Restricted Franchise

This is the type of franchise whereby not all qualified adults are allowed to vote or to be voted for. The right to vote is only granted to those adults who fulfil certain conditions. The criteria may depend on one’s race, sex, property owned, evidence of payment of taxes etc. 

An example of a country that practised limited franchises is South Africa during Apartheid.

Merits Of Limited Or Restricted Franchise

1. It allows few well-informed citizens to vote after a critical scrutiny of the candidates.
2. It seems to be a more mature election than an unlimited franchise.
3. It makes use of more qualified candidates than the universal franchise.
4. It prevents foreigners who do not know much about the candidates contesting elections from voting.
5. Limited franchise disallowed people of unsound minds like lunatics, criminals, bankrupts, etc to vote.
6. Limited franchise reduces the rate of election violence
7. It makes the taxpayers watch their representatives on the utilization of their tax money.

Demerits Of Limited Or Restricted Franchise  

1. It does not give all qualified adults an equal chance to vote.
2. Limited franchises are prone to corruption because the few people allowed to vote can all be bribed.
3. Those elected through limited franchises do not reflect popular choice.
4. Limited franchises are less democratic.
5. The majority of the citizens of the country do not show interest in the affairs of the government since they are not allowed to vote.
6. Many eligible voters do not know their representatives.
7.  The representatives seem to be imposed on the majority of the citizens.

2. Unlimited Franchise Or Universal Adult Suffrage

This is the type of franchise that allows all qualified men and women adults to vote and be voted for. This is the most popular form of franchise. It is constitutional and democratic. However, there are still some qualifications to be met by individuals before voting. Although it is not as restricted as in the limited franchise. Some of the criteria for voting are; age, citizenship, registration, sanity, bankruptcy, residence etc.

Merits Of Unlimited Franchise Or Universal Adult Suffrage  

1. It gives qualified adults equality of votes.
2. It creates the opportunity for the full participation of many citizens of a country in their electoral system.
3.  It is a more democratic election.
4. It avoids discrimination based on sex, race, religion, etc.
5. It makes for a stable government because the participation of the majority of the citizens in the election of their representatives reduces ill- feelings and revolts.
6. It makes the majority of the citizens have an interest in the affairs of the government of their country.
7. Elected representatives through universal adult suffrage reflect popular choice.
8. Universal adult suffrage widens voter’s base.

Demerits Of Unlimited Franchise Or Universal Adult Suffrage

1. It emphasizes quantity rather than quality of votes.
2. The majority of the adult voters allowed to vote are illiterates who vote blindly.
3.  The involvement of many people in the voting encourages violent polling.
4. It encourages the election of many unqualified representatives through unlimited franchises seems to be mediocre in outlook.
5. It brings about victimization and intimidation of political opponents in the system.
6. It produces electoral malpractices because many people are involved in voting.

TYPES OF SUFFRAGE

1. Adult Suffrage: This involves the voting of adults (men and women), qualifying.
2. Male Suffrage: This is a system whereby only adult males are allowed to vote.
3. Tax-Payers Suffrage: This is a system whereby only those who have been paying their taxes constantly can vote.
4. Property Suffrage: In this type of suffrage, only those with enormous assets and wealth are allowed to vote.

CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR ELIGIBILITY AS CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIONS

1. Age: A person wishing to contest elections must be up to the minimum age limit stipulated in the constitution. For example in Nigeria, a person wishing to contest an election for presidency must be up to 35 years of age.
2. Residential Qualification: The individual must have lived in the country for several years or months as spelt out in the constitution of the country.
3. Payment of Tax: He or she must be ready to provide evidence of payment of tax at least for some years.
4. Payment of Election Deposit: A specified sum of money must be paid by those wishing to contest an election in a country.
5. No Criminal Record: The person wishing to contest an election must not be an ex-convict, must not be found guilty of any criminal offence and must not be serving any form of imprisonment.
6. Sanity: The candidate must be a person of sound and sane mind.
7. Citizenship: In many modern democratic countries, only citizens are qualified to contest elections.
8. Education: In most countries, qualitative education is a criterion for eligibility as an election candidate.
9. Filling of Nomination Paper: A person wishing to contest an election must fill his nomination paper at a stipulated time supported by a specified number of persons.
10. Must not be banned: In a country like Nigeria presently banned former politicians are not qualified to contest elections.

ASSIGNMENT 

1. Define Unlimited Franchise
2. State 5 merits of Unlimited Franchise.
3. Highlight 5 disadvantages of Limited Franchise.
4. State 5 demerits of Unlimited Franchise.
5. Mention 5 features of representative government.
6. What are the conditions necessary for representative government?