UK voting age to be lowered to 16, among other reforms

United Kingdom

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Wednesday, July 23, 2025 

In the United Kingdom (UK), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government unveiled plans on Thursday to lower the voting age to 16, following successful reforms by Scotland and Wales.

According to official data cited by Reuters,the population of 16–17 year olds in the United Kingdom was 1.6 million, compared to the 48 million eligible to vote at the 2024 general election.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV News that he supported the changes for 16 and 17-year-olds, “because they’re old enough to go out to work, they’re old enough to pay taxes,” adding that, “I think if you pay in you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on.” Lowering the voting age was a manifesto promise for his party at the 2024 general election.

A poll by Merlin Strategy for ITV News found that 51% of 16–17 year olds supported lowering the voting age to 16, and that 33% of 16–17s would vote Labour. The polling also found that, among respondents in that age group, former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was the most popular of the listed politicians.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticised the move, despite his party polling second place at 20% in that age group, saying that “I don’t think you should be able to vote in an election unless you’re also eligible to be a candidate, and I don’t think 16 year olds should stand for Parliament.”

The plans were part of wider electoral reforms announced by the Ministry, including classifying bank cards as a valid form of voter ID, introducing automatic voter registration and restricting political donations.

• YouGov Voting Intention Survey Results — YouGov, July 22, 2025 (PDF)

• Becky Morton, Adam Smith, Jonelle Awomoyi. Voting age to be lowered to 16 by next general election — BBC News Online, July 17, 2025
• Sam Tabahriti, Catarina Demony. UK to lower voting age to 16 in landmark electoral reform — Reuters, July 17, 2025
• Maya Bowles. Half of 16 and 17 year olds don’t want the vote, despite government pressing ahead with votes at 16 — ITV News, July 17, 2025
• Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections — Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, July 17, 2025
  

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