With regard to the ballot, it is worthy of remark that no meeting has been held in favour of Reform at which the ballot has not been strongly insisted upon.
John BrightRead
Demand the ballot as the undeniable right of every man who is called to the poll, and take special care that the old constitutional rule and principle, by which majorities alone shall decide in Parliamentary elections, shall not be violated.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of voting rights and the necessity for fair electoral practices.
John Bright's quote underscores the fundamental principle of democracy that every individual should have the right to vote and actively participate in elections. It highlights the need to protect this right and ensure that the foundational rule of majority decision-making in parliamentary elections is upheld, thus safeguarding the legitimacy of democratic processes.
Themes
VotingDemocracyRightsElectionsMajority
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on democratic values, one might use this quote to stress the importance of voting rights.
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