KEY POINTS:
- The British government announced plans to lower the voting age from 18 to 16, according to multiple news sources on July 17
- The reforms require parliamentary approval and would align England and Northern Ireland with Scotland and Wales, GOV.UK reported
- ITV News reported that a Merlin Strategy poll found 49% of 16 and 17-year-olds oppose the change
The British government announced Thursday it plans to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in all UK elections, marking the most significant electoral reform in over five decades. According to the official government announcement on GOV.UK on July 17, the changes would bring England and Northern Ireland in line with Scotland and Wales, where younger voters already participate in devolved elections.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said in the government statement that the reforms aim to “break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy.” The proposed changes, which CNN reported on July 17 are subject to parliamentary approval, would affect approximately 1.6 million teenagers. Reuters reported on July 17 that official data shows there are about 1.6 million 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK.
The reform comes at a time of declining electoral participation. CNN reported on July 17 that according to a parliamentary report, turnout at the 2024 general election was 59.7%, the lowest at a general election since 2001. The government hopes expanding the franchise will help reverse this trend.
However, ITV News reported on July 17 that a Merlin Strategy poll found significant opposition among the very age group the reform aims to benefit. According to ITV News, 49% of 16 and 17-year-olds said the voting age should not be lowered, while only 18% said they would definitely vote if given the opportunity.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the policy in comments reported by US News/Reuters on July 17. “They’re old enough to go out to work, they’re old enough to pay taxes,” Starmer told ITV News, according to the Reuters report. “I think if you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on.”
CNN reported on July 17 that according to the House of Commons library, research from countries that have lowered the voting age to 16 shows it has had no impact on election outcomes. The same research indicated that 16-year-olds were more likely to vote than those first eligible at 18.
The reforms extend beyond voting age. According to the government announcement on GOV.UK, the changes include expanding acceptable voter ID to include UK-issued bank cards and digital formats of existing IDs such as driving licenses and Veteran Cards. AP News reported on July 17 that the Electoral Commission estimates about 750,000 people did not vote in last year’s election because they lacked ID.
Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali said in the government statement on July 17 that the reforms represent “a generational step forward in restoring public trust and boosting engagement in UK democracy.” The government also announced plans for automated voter registration and tighter rules on political donations to combat foreign interference.
Harry Quilter-Pinner, head of the Institute for Public Policy Research, told AP News on July 17 that the changes were “the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969,” when the voting age was previously lowered from 21 to 18.
Political reactions have been divided along party lines. ITV News reported on July 17 that when asked about youth voting preferences, their poll showed 33% of 16 and 17-year-olds would vote Labour, 20% would vote Reform UK, 18% Green, 12% Liberal Democrats, and 10% Conservative.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told ITV News on July 17 that he opposes the change. “I don’t think you should be able to vote in an election unless you’re also eligible to be a candidate,” Farage said, according to ITV News.
Stuart Fox, a politics lecturer at the University of Exeter, expressed skepticism about the reform’s effectiveness. AP News reported on July 17 that Fox said it’s “far from clear” whether lowering the voting age actually increases youth engagement.
Reuters reported on July 17 that the next general election must be held by 2029, meaning the new voting rules would be in place by then if approved by Parliament. The government indicated in its announcement that legislation will be brought forward as an elections bill, followed by secondary legislation setting out implementation details.
