UK Government Decides: Under-18s Will Be Allowed to Vote in the Next Election
The UK government announced today that sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds will be allowed to vote in the next general election.
The minimum voting age of 16 already applies to elections for local councils in Scotland and Wales, as well as for the Scottish Parliament. However, for other elections—including the UK Parliament, local elections in England, and all elections in Northern Ireland—it is currently set at 18 – reports Danas.rs.
Lowering the voting age to 16 would be the biggest change to the electorate since 1969, when it was reduced from 21 to 18, according to the BBC.
The promise to lower the voting age to 16 was included in the Labour Party’s election manifesto. The government has now confirmed it plans to reduce the voting age at the next general election, which is due by 2029 but could be called earlier.
Critics argue that this change could benefit Labour, as young people tend to vote for left-leaning parties. However, polls suggest this may not be the case, since young voters currently lean more towards the Greens, the Liberal Democrats, and the Reform Party.
In the United Kingdom, people aged 16 and 17 make up only about three percent of the population. Researchers say their impact on the overall share of votes will likely be negligible, especially as turnout is usually lower among younger age groups.
