1. Slide prepared by Democracy Coalition Project for Claim Democracy conference. Abstract of Paper: “International Status of the Right to Vote.”: 11/21/03 1 The Right to Vote in Democratic Constitutions Universal Suffrage for the Election of Sovereign Institutions: In these constitutions, the right to vote is not expressed as an individual right, but universal suffrage and secret elections are mandated for the fulfillment of positions in sovereign bodies, such as a legislature. Ex: South Korea The National Assembly is composed of members elected by universal, equal, direct, and secret ballot by the citizens. The President is elected by universal, equal, direct, and secret ballot by the people. General Right to Vote: These constitutions have articles or clauses outlining citizens’ entitlement to choose their representatives at all levels of government. Ex: Portugal All citizens who are over 18 years of age have the right to vote, except for the incapacities laid down in general law. The exercise of the right to vote is personal and constitutes a civic duty. Robust Right to Vote Provisions: These constitutions either go beyond asserting a right to vote by explicitly curbing the state’s power to limit those who are eligible to vote and/or they establish an affirmative obligation of the state to promote electoral participation: Universal Suffrage for the Election of Sovereign Institutions: In these constitutions, the right to vote is not expressed as an individual right, but universal suffrage and secret elections are mandated for the fulfillment of positions in sovereign bodies, such as a legislature. Ex: South Korea The National Assembly is composed of members elected by universal, equal, direct, and secret ballot by the citizens. The President is elected by universal, equal, direct, and secret ballot by the people. General Right to Vote: These constitutions have articles or clauses outlining citizens’ entitlement to choose their representatives at all levels of government. Ex: Portugal All citizens who are over 18 years of age have the right to vote, except for the incapacities laid down in general law. The exercise of the right to vote is personal and constitutes a civic duty. Robust Right to Vote Provisions: These constitutions either go beyond asserting a right to vote by explicitly curbing the state’s power to limit those who are eligible to vote and/or they establish an affirmative obligation of the state to promote electoral participation:

2. Slide prepared by Democracy Coalition Project for Claim Democracy conference. Abstract of Paper: “International Status of the Right to Vote.”: 11/21/03 2 Professor Raskin’s ProposalItalyHondurasPeruArgentina Right to Vote Section 1. All citizens of the United States of at least eighteen [seventeen?] years of age have the right to vote in elections for President and Vice President and for electors for President and Vice President… Section 2. Territories of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct… Section 3. All citizens of the United States of at least eighteen [seventeen?] years of age have the right to vote in elections for executive and legislative officers of their states and, where applicable, in elections for their United States Representatives and Senators. The District constituting the Seat of Government of the United States…. Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Nothing in this Article shall be construed to deny the power of States to expand further the electorate. (1) All citizens, men or women, who have attained their majority are entitled to vote. (2) Voting is personal, equal, free, and secret. Its exercise is a civic duty. (3) The law defines the conditions under which the citizens residing abroad effectively exercise their electoral right… Suffrage is right and is a public function. The vote is universal, obligatory, equal, direct, free and secret. Citizens enjoying their civil capacity have the right to vote. The vote is personal, equal, free, secret and obligatory until one is seventy years old. It is optional after this age.* This Constitution guarantees the full exercise of political rights, in accordance with the principle of popular sovereignty and with the laws derived therefrom. Suffrage shall be universal, equal, secret and compulsory. Limit on Potential Restrictions Section 4. The right of citizens of at least eighteen [seventeen] years of age to vote, participate and run for office on an equal basis shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State. (4) The right to vote may not be limited except for incapacity, as a consequence of an irrevocable criminal sentence, or in cases of moral unworthiness established by law. All acts that prohibit or limit the participation of the citizenary in the political life of the country are punishable. All acts that limit or prohibit citizens from exercising their rights are null and punishable. Positive Role for Govern- ment Actual equality of opportunities for men and women to elective and political party positions shall be guaranteed by means of positive actions in the regulation of political parties and in the electoral system. Robust Right to Vote Provisions