London — July 17, 2025

The United Kingdom is preparing to lower the voting age to 16 for general elections, a historic change that would make the UK one of the countries with the lowest voting ages worldwide.

The proposal, announced Thursday by the British government, fulfills a campaign pledge by the ruling Labour Party and is part of a broader plan to “modernise our democracy” amid concerns about low voter turnout.

Why The Change?

Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the move, saying young people deserve a voice in shaping the country’s future:

• “I think it’s really important that 16- and 17-year-olds have the vote, because they are old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes. If you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on.”

Labour officials argue the measure aligns with the existing voting age for devolved parliament elections in Scotland and Wales, where 16-year-olds can already vote.

Critics Call It “Self-Serving”

Opponents have slammed the plan as politically motivated, claiming the newly enfranchised group is more likely to favor the centre-left Labour Party. The government, however, insists the change is about fairness and boosting participation.

Other Planned Electoral Reforms

The voting age reduction is part of what experts are calling the biggest reform since 1969, when the UK lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Additional measures include:

• Automated voter registration, similar to systems in Australia and Canada
• Allowing UK-issued bank cards as valid ID at polling stations

Reversing restrictive voter ID rules introduced by the previous Conservative government, which reportedly stopped 750,000 people from voting in last year’s election

Global Context

Only a handful of countries let 16-year-olds vote in national elections, including Austria (which introduced the change in 2007), Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Cuba.

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What It Means

Experts estimate the reforms could add up to 9.5 million new voters to the electoral roll, potentially reshaping UK politics for decades.

Harry Quilter-Pinner, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research, hailed the move:

• “Our democracy is in crisis, and we risk reaching a tipping point where politics loses its legitimacy. This reform is essential.”

The legislation will be introduced in parliament, where Labour commands a comfortable majority, making passage likely.

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