Disenfranchise (Verb)
Meaning
Deprive of voting rights.
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The law disenfranchised thousands of citizens who had been convicted of a felony, denying them their right to participate in the democratic process.
- Strict voter ID laws have been criticized for disenfranchising low-income and minority communities who may not have access to the necessary documents.
- In the early 20th century, many Southern states passed laws that disenfranchised African American citizens through the use of poll taxes and literacy tests.
- The decision to move the polling station to a remote location disenfranchised many elderly voters who relied on public transportation to get there.
- The strict residency requirements disenfranchised many student voters who were unable to register in the state where they attended college.