选举权观念的更新——从选举法“四分之一条款”的废除说起

2010年选举法修改,废除"四分之一条款",实行城乡按相同人口比例选举人大代表,这象征着选举权观念从阶级论过渡到了权利论。选举权的阶级论,否定存在着抽象的、超阶级的选举权,其作为一种批判理论是深刻的,但也容易陷入工具主义的泥淖,将选举权局限在工具的意义上。选举权的权利论,强调权利主体的个体性、普遍性和平等性,其与政治正义论有着密切的关系。由于公平正义、和谐社会已成为我们社会的理想目标,选举权观念也有必要从阶级论过渡到权利论,承认选举权的道德权利性质。

On the Conceptual Renewal of the Right to Vote——From Class Theory to Right- based Theory

In the 2010 revised version of China Election Law, the clauses of so called one-quarter right to vote that are unequal for voters of rural areas have been abolished. It means the urban and rural population are to vote according to the identical population representation, symbolising the conceptual renewal of the right to vote from the class theory to right-based theories. For the Class Theory, the right to vote must be class-based and there does not exist the abstract right to vote. The Class Theory is significant and profound as a critical theory, but it also tends to be relegated to instrumentalism and comfine the right to vote to an instrument only. the Right-based Theories which have a close relationship with the theories of political justice insist that the subject of the right to vote is individual, universal and equal. Justice and fairness make harmony of society our ideals, so it is also imperative for the idea of the right to vote transisted from classbased theories to the right-based theories and the moral right of the right to vote must be acknowledged.