In 1931. That was under the Donoughmore Reforms

Today many countries prefer the democratic system as the best form of government. Universal franchise provides authority for the citizens to select representatives and government of their choice and send them home when they do not serve the country according to the wishes of the citizens. Therefore the politicians have to depend on people. Those who govern the country are only guardians while owners are the citizens. If the rulers cannot rule the country according to the wishes of the people universal franchise provides the citizens, the power to remove them without mercy.

From the year 1931 all citizens of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) have been enjoying universal franchise unless they were debarred due to any disqualification. The Election (Amendment) Act No 11 of 1959, brought the age of a citizen to get registered in the electoral register, down to 18 years. Universal franchise is enshrined as a democratic power in both Republic Constitutions of Sri Lanka 1972 and 1978. Article 3 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka states that sovereignty is in the people and inalienable. Same Article further says that sovereignty includes the powers of government, fundamental rights and franchise. This means franchise itself is a part and parcel of sovereignty. The execute power has to be exercised by the representatives elected by the people. At a referendum people exercise franchise directly by themselves and not through representatives. The country’s executive functions including security, is the responsibility of the President elected by the people. Judicial powers we executed by Parliament through justice. This enunciates that the administration of the country, making of laws, the executive and judiciary lies with the people through their power of vote. In summation the total power structure lies with the people.

The machinery that operates franchise is in this country is the election. Presidential election, Parliamentary elections, provincial councils elections, local authorities elections are periodically conducted and Referenda where needed. Authority to hold these elections and takings of polls is the Election Commission. The government has to formulate basic legal requirements for elections. This is called representative democracy. Representatives are the people's choice. Elections are held to elect representatives and thy are placed in representative bodies by the people and make them to work for the people who voted them to the representative institutions.

The essentials of universal franchise are the secrecy of vote, protection of voters unhindered by any external influence, existence of political parties, media freedom, equal opportunity for all voters unobstructed, the rule of law and an independent judicial system.

The time periods of each election are given in respective election Acts. Time period of an election is the period from calling for nominations and objection inquiries connected to nomination papers, up to the count and declaration of results. Before the year 1947 the vote was cast by dropping the ballot papers into the colour boxes of the candidates entered the contest in various colours. From 1947, the candidates were given symbols to which the voters cast their vote. There were 14 symbols in that elections People now cast vote against the symbols. In the election 1947 the casting of vote took 19 days to complete and currently the election is held on one day. Till 1978 the first-past-the-post system existed and after 1978 the proportional system is used. The number of members were returned according to the number of votes each party or independent group secured. The eligibility of voter is that his/her name should have been listed in the electoral register.

The sole authority of conducting an election is the Election Commission. Before the Nineteenth Amendment it was the Election Commission who held authority. In terms of the Ceylon Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Act No 11 of 1959 the position of the Commissioner of Elections was equal to the Auditor General and independent and free of political influence. Thus is how the independence of the Commissioner of Elections was secured. By the Parliamenary Elections (Amendment) Act No 08 of 1964 it was agreed that the Commissioner of Elections cannot be removed from office without 2/3 majority in Parliament. The Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution granted equal importance to the position and even beyond that. The Commissioner of Elections was responsible to Parliament and in turn they are answerable to the people.