‘If you pay, you should have a say’: UK to lower voting age to 16
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – In a significant overhaul of its democratic process, the British Government has confirmed that the voting age for all UK-wide elections will be lowered from 18 to 16, effective in time for the next general election. This monumental decision, a key manifesto commitment of the Labour government, brings the whole of the United Kingdom into line with Scotland and Wales, where 16 and 17-year-olds already possess the franchise for devolved and local elections.
The announcement, made on Thursday, 17th July 2025, by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, marks the biggest reform to the UK's electoral system since the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1969. Around 1.5 million 16 and 17-year-olds are expected to become eligible to cast their ballots, representing a substantial expansion of the electorate.
The Rationale: Taxation...