Minimum voting age to be lowered to 16 by next general election

16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote at the next general election in a major change set to “modernise UK democracy”, the UK Government has announced.  

It will mark the first time this age group can vote in a UK-wide election, fulfilling one of Labour's manifesto promises. 

The change will bring general elections in line with rules in Scotland and Wales, where the minimum age for voting at parliament and local council elections is 16. 

It is part of a raft of “seismic changes” to “boost democratic engagement” and “restore” public trust in democracy.  

The last time the voting age was changed was 1969, when it was lowered from 21 to 18. 

Among other measures to “bring the UK democracy into the 21 century”, ministers will expand the list of accepted forms of voter ID to include UK-issued bank cards, and digital format IDs such as the veteran card and UK driving licences, when they become available. 

A new digital Voter Authority Certificate will also be created to ensure Electoral Registration Officers - responsible for maintaining registers of electors and absent voters - to reduce the need to fill out details across different government services on multiple occasions. 

Under the plans, the government will also tackle foreign interference by closing loopholes that would allow foreign donors to influence UK elections via ‘shell companies’, and new ‘Know your Donor’ checks on donations over £500 in a bid to tackle the risk of illegitimate contributions. 

“This will end the status quo, where a new company registered today, owned by anyone, funded from anywhere, without even a single day of trade, can donate and have influence in UK politics”, the government said.  

The reforms will also allow the Electoral Commission to impose higher fines of up to £500,000 on those who breach political finance rules and enable tougher sentences for those who abuse election campaigners. 

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline.        

“We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change, and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give 16-year-olds the right to vote.    

“We cannot take our democracy for granted, and by protecting our elections from abuse and boosting participation we will strengthen the foundations of our society for the future.”     

Speaking in the Commons, Conservative shadow minister for local government Paul Holmes said the government's position on the voting age was “hopelessly confused".

He said: “Why does this government think a 16-year-old can vote but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket, an alcoholic drink, marry, or go to war, or even stand in the elections they're voting in?”

He also suggests that allowing bank cards as voter ID could "undermine the security of the ballot box”.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said he doesn't support lowering the voting age to 16 “even though we get lots of votes”.

Speaking to ITV News, Farage said someone shouldn't be able to vote in an election unless they're able to stand as a candidate. A candidate must be at least 18 to stand for election.

Scottish Lib Dem MP, Alistair Carmichael, welcomed the changes, but added he was “disappointed" by the government’s rejection of the “growing campaign for fair votes and a more proportional electoral system”.

He said: “The last election was one of the most disproportionate in our history and that only fuels discontent and disappointment with the state of our country. If ministers want to see renewal of our politics then they should start at the roots of the problem with electoral reform – so that every vote matters.”