Legal Definitions - right to vote

The right to vote is the ability to participate in public elections by casting a vote. This is also known as suffrage. In the United States, suffrage is a privilege granted by the people to those who are deemed fit to represent them in political duties that would be inconvenient for the people to perform as a whole. Those who are granted suffrage are called electors or voters. However, not all communities extend suffrage to all persons and may place restrictions on it to best serve the ends of government.

For example, in the United States, the right to vote was initially restricted to white male property owners. Over time, suffrage was expanded to include women, African Americans, and other marginalized groups. Today, citizens over the age of 18 who meet certain requirements, such as being a U.S. citizen and a resident of a particular state, are granted the right to vote.

The act of voting is also referred to as suffrage. When individuals participate in an election by casting their vote, they are exercising their right to suffrage.