On Thursday, the British government announced it will lower the voting age from 18 to 16 for all UK elections by the next national election, in a bid to increase democratic participation. “We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy,” Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said in a statement.
The overhaul to the democratic system also includes tackling foreign interference in British elections and simplifying voter registration. The government plans to tighten rules on political donations, including checks on contributions over £500 from unincorporated associations and closing loopholes used by shell companies. Acceptable voter ID would be expanded to include UK-issued bank cards and digital formats of existing IDs, such as driver’s licenses and Veteran Cards, making voting more accessible. The proposed changes to the system are subject to parliamentary approval, and the next general election is not expected until 2029.
The center-left Labour Party pledged before it was elected in 2024 to lower the voting age for elections to Britain’s Parliament. The decision would align voting rights across the United Kingdom, as Scotland and Wales already allow 16-year-olds to vote in elections.
According to a parliamentary report, turnout at the 2024 general election was 59.7%, the lowest at a general election since 2001. In an introduction to the announcement, Angela Rayner wrote, “Declining trust in our institutions and democracy itself has become critical, but it is the responsibility of government to turn this around and renew our democracy, just as generations have done before us.”
Critics of the proposal argue that it could benefit the Labour Party, as young people are more likely to vote for left-wing parties and candidates. Angela Rayner responded, stating, “This isn’t about trying to rig votes for a particular party. This is about democracy and giving young people an opportunity to have a say.”
Britain will join the short list of countries whose voting age is also 16, including Austria, Brazil, and Ecuador. Similarly, Belgium, Germany, and Malta allow 16-year-olds to vote in elections to the European Parliament. According to the House of Commons library, countries that have lowered the voting age to 16 show no impact on election outcomes, and 16-year-olds were more likely to vote than those first eligible at 18.
