We have come a long way! The Constitution of September 3, 1791 established the right to vote only for men over 25 paying a tax equal to the value of three days of work. On December 13, 1799 (22 Frimaire Year VIII) the new Constitution proposed the vote for all men over 21 who had stayed at least one year on French territory. And yet these voters had to content themselves with designating representatives on communal lists which themselves designated departmental and then national representatives. There was no question of citizens expressing themselves directly, without filters. In 1815, the suffrage censitaire limited the vote to men aged 30 paying a direct contribution of 300 francs. Those who had nothing were always asked to keep quiet. On March 5, 1848, the right to vote was extended to all 21-year-old men and the vote became secret.
For women to get the right to vote, it was necessary to wait for the ordinance signed by General de Gaulle on April 21, 1944. French women voted for the first time in the municipal elections of 1945. The same year, it was the turn of the military to obtain the right to vote. Eleven years later, in 1956, universal suffrage was instituted in the overseas territories. In 1974, President Giscard d’Estaing decided that French women and men would vote from the age of 18.
The world upside down
The extension of the right to vote allowed the rise of Democracy. While so many people fought and hoped to finally be able to vote one day, how could we accept today that the course of history is reversed? The historic abstention from first round of legislative elections on Sunday confirms a trend that is not new. That 70% of 18-34 year olds did not vote is an alarming signal. One more. How can we imagine that our Democracy can survive without the citizens themselves designating their elected representatives? The vote was our victory. Will abstention be our defeat?
It’s the world upside down ! The mission of the elected official is entrusted to him by the citizens. They are the ones who decide who should be in charge, who should manage common affairs. It is the citizens who evaluate the work of elected officials, who decide whether they should be reinforced in their responsibilities or, on the contrary, whether they should give way and in this case, it is the citizens who decide who should replace them. The citizens, therefore the people, always have the last word. Provided that they express themselves, that they get involved in political life, and above all that they vote. But citizens are voting less and less. Abstention wins, election after election. More and more citizens are criticizing those who engage in politics but give them carte blanche. The elected officials work, often enormously, and the citizens sink into indifference.
We believe that some elected officials are ineffective? Are we, citizens, more effective? We believe that elected officials are not up to the challenges? We, citizens, are we? The responsibility of citizens precedes that of elected officials. Let those who think they do not have the elected they deserve console themselves by saying that they have those they have elected, or let them elect while abstaining.
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