the discontinuation of a franchise; especially the discontinuation of the right to vote

Disenfranchisement or disfranchisement is the revocation of, or failure to grant, the right of suffrage (the right to vote) to a person or group of people. Disfranchisement may occur explicitly through law, or implicitly through means such as intimidation.

The act of disfranchising, or the state of being disfranchised; deprivation of privileges of citizenship or of chartered immunities.