UK To Lower Voting Age To 16: A Historic Democratic Reform

The United Kingdom is about to make a landmark change in its electoral system by lowering the voting age from 18 to 16.

- TDG NETWORK

This reform, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, aims to encourage younger citizens to participate actively in democracy. For the first time, 16 and 17-year-olds will be allowed to vote in all UK elections — including general elections — marking a significant expansion of voting rights in the country's history.

This move puts the UK alongside a small but growing group of countries, primarily in Europe, that already permit younger voters to have a say in their governance. It is also a strategic response to declining voter turnout, which reached its lowest point in recent decades during the 2024 general election.

THE UK'S CURRENT SITUATION

Currently, only 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland and Wales can vote in some devolved elections, but not in the UK-wide elections such as the general election or local council elections elsewhere. The government's proposal will extend these rights to the entire UK, making voting more inclusive. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner emphasized that lowering the voting age would "break down barriers to participation," allowing more people to engage with UK democracy from an earlier age.

This reform is seen as an opportunity to re-energize the electorate and improve democratic participation over the long term. The move is also paired with plans to modernize voter identification rules by accepting UK-issued bank cards and digital IDs, reducing obstacles to voting.

WHY LOWER THE VOTING AGE?