Universal Suffrage
After a long history of agitation, women in New Zealand were granted the right to vote in 1893. Theoretically New Zealand now has universal suffrage - meaning everyone over the age of 18 has the right to vote- which is considered a basic element of democracy. However in 2010 the National government passed The Electoral (Disqualification of Convicted Prisoners) Amendment Bill which removed the right of sentenced prisoners to vote. The Attorney General says the new law is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act. Section 12 of the Bill states that "every New Zealand citizen who is over the age of 18 years has the right to vote and stand in genuine periodic elections of members of the House of Representatives".
Read more about this topic: Electoral System Of New Zealand
Famous quotes containing the words universal and/or suffrage:
“The world still wants its poet-priest, a reconciler, who shall not trifle with Shakspeare the player, nor shall grope in graves with Swedenborg the mourner; but who shall see, speak, and act, with equal inspiration. For knowledge will brighten the sunshine; right is more beautiful than private affection; and love is compatible with universal wisdom.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“... a large portion of those who demand woman suffrage are persons who have not been trained to reason, and are chiefly guided by their generous sensibilities.”
—Catherine E. Beecher (1800–1878)