🔴 Website 👉 https://u-s-news.com/
Telegram 👉 https://t.me/usnewscom_channel
The United Kingdom intends to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 in its next general election.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement.
Check it out:
BREAKING:
Keir Starmer announces that the UK is lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 in all UK elections. pic.twitter.com/HOAbkCJJ1R
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 17, 2025
More from The Guardian:
The government said it was a reform to bring in more fairness for 16- and 17-year-olds, many of whom already work and are able to serve in the military. It brings the whole of the UK voting age to 16. Scotland and Wales have already made the change for Holyrood and Senedd elections, as well as local council elections.
In a sweeping package of changes, ministers will also extend voter ID to include bank and veterans’ cards to help more people exercise their democratic right.
As revealed by the Guardian, there will also be tougher new rules to guard against foreign political interference and abuse of candidates.
The move to extend the voting franchise fulfils a manifesto promise by Labour to give 16- and 17-year-olds the vote.
The package also appears to be taking steps towards encouraging more voter registration. Although it does not commit to entirely automatic voter registration, the government said it would move to an “increasingly automated voter registration system” that would reduce the need to fill out details across different government services on multiple occasions.
Some viewed Labour’s move to lower the voting age as a way to shore up more votes since it’s becoming extremely unpopular.
The left-wing UK government, being extremely unpopular and trying to secure electoral wins going forward, has lowered the voting age to 16 for all elections. Left-wing supporters of the change say it “expands democracy.” pic.twitter.com/8ZutI0eGOS
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) July 17, 2025
CNN noted:
Turnout at the 2024 general election was 59.7%, the lowest at a general election since 2001, according to a parliamentary report.
According to the House of Commons library, research from countries that have lowered the voting age to 16 shows it has had no impact on election outcomes, and that 16-year-olds were more likely to vote than those first eligible at 18.
Labour, whose popularity has fallen sharply in government after being elected by a landslide a year ago, had said it would lower the voting age if elected.
The reforms would also expand acceptable voter ID to include UK-issued bank cards and digital formats of existing IDs, such as driving licences and Veteran Cards.
To tackle foreign interference, the government said it also planned to tighten rules on political donations, including checks on contributions over £500 ($670) from unincorporated associations and closing loopholes used by shell companies.