suffrage

Meaning

The right to vote in political elections.

Origin / Etymology

From Latin 'suffragium' (a voting tablet, the right to vote).

Synonyms

franchise voting right ballot enfranchisement

Antonyms

disenfranchisement disqualification exclusion denial of vote

Example Sentence

"The Constitution granted universal adult suffrage from the outset, an extraordinary step for a newly independent nation."

🎯 UPSC Usage

Central to GS Paper 2 on the Constitution and electoral democracy. Highlight India's adoption of universal adult suffrage under Article 326, contrast it with the gradual expansion of the franchise in the West, and link it to inclusion and political equality.

Relevant Subjects

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