ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base
Universal Subfragment
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Universal suffrage consists of the right to vote of all the population of a State, regardless of age, origin or nationality (these two are the most common exceptions), race, sex, training, belief or social status. Although the term "universal suffrage" had already been included in much of the constitutions of the, even the liberal states still set limits to the vote by sex and "race." At the international level, the only accepted limits to universal suffrage are the need to have the nationality of the state and a minimum age for voting.
In 1789, political power began to be in the hands of presidents and chambers of representatives, and it was necessary to regulate their system of election. During the 19th and 20th centuries, electoral systems were established that began to be very restricted and limited to an elite, until universal recognition of the vote. Although not all countries went through the same stages and restrictions, or in the same order, in general terms universal suffrage in a full sense was established after an evaluation through the following systems:
Assorption (or "restricted"): only men who meet a number of educational, income and social-class requirements are voting on it;
Qualified male suffering (usually called "universal" by the Constitutions that approve it): in which all men who can read and write can vote;
Women's suffering: women's right to vote is recognized. First married women, who can read and have property, then single women.
Suffering without racial discrimination: the right to vote of all persons, without racial discrimination, or of their ethnic belonging or national origin is guaranteed.
Unqualified suffering: which establishes the right to vote for all persons, without discriminating against their educational level, including illiterate persons. She is criticized for letting uninformed people have the same power as those who are.
Limitations on universal suffrage
Although it is considered an achievement of the indispensable democracy in any modern political system, throughout the history of the 19th and 20th centuries, and even today, universal suffrage has exceptions that vary in its treatment from country to country.
The limitations on the right to vote within a system of universal suffrage are generally related to two issues:
the status of an alien
the absence or limitation of the capacity for free discernment, on matters of age, mental health, or situations of due obedience, such as the military or persons legally deprived of their liberty.
Although this is not a legal restriction, it is an order, in some countries to vote it is necessary to register personally on an electoral roll. It's