'Universal' means commonly applicable to all persons, without any discrimination; adult means a person who is a major and not a minor; 'franchise' means individual right to cast his/her vote. Universal adult franchise thus means a system in which all adults, men and women, without any discrimination have a right to vote in the elections. But all adults do not include those who are legally banned from voting.
In many ways, Universal Adult Franchise has provided opportunities to people to participate in the election processes despite differences of class, caste, gender and religion. It has enriched our democracy by giving equal opportunity to all persons. Today, people of all castes and classes have an opportunity to vote. However, we cannot say that the inequalities, in one society have completely gone, persons belonging to different classes, caste and gender still discriminated. Real equality can only be brought in once there is a change in the attitude and behavior of ordinary citizens and they stop discrimination at all levels in their personal lives as well as the social level. But in spite of various arguments being given against Universal Adult Franchise, it is very much successful in India.