The United Kingdom is poised to make a historic change to its electoral system by lowering the voting age to 16 for general elections. The move, announced Thursday by the British government, would place the UK among a small group of nations with one of the lowest voting ages globally.
This decision follows a key campaign promise by the ruling Labour Party, which pledged to reform the country’s democratic framework after assuming power last year. The proposal is part of a broader effort to modernize the electoral system and tackle what many describe as a “crisis” in democratic engagement, marked by declining voter turnout.
The plan has sparked political debate, with critics claiming the change may benefit Labour, as younger voters are generally seen as more aligned with centre-left policies. However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the initiative, stating:
“It’s really important that 16- and 17-year-olds have the vote. They’re old enough to work, pay taxes — they should have a say in how their money is spent and the direction of the government.”
To implement the new voting age, legislation must be introduced in Parliament, where Labour currently holds a strong majority.
Few countries globally allow 16-year-olds to vote in national elections, with examples including Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Cuba. Austria became the first EU nation to adopt the policy in 2007.
Labour leaders say the reform will harmonize the general election voting age with that of devolved elections in Scotland and Wales, where 16-year-olds can already vote. Additional reforms are also on the table, including:
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Automated voter registration, as used in Canada and Australia
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Acceptance of UK-issued bank cards as valid voter ID at polling stations
These proposals come after controversial voter ID laws enacted by the former Conservative government led to approximately 750,000 people being unable to vote in the last election.
Harry Quilter-Pinner, Executive Director at the Institute for Public Policy Research, called the reforms “the biggest change to our electoral system since 1969,” referencing when the voting age was last lowered from 21 to 18. He estimated that the changes could bring up to 9.5 million new voters onto the register.
“Our democracy is in crisis,” he warned. “If we don’t act, we risk reaching a point where politics loses its legitimacy.”
