Britain to lower voting age to 16

United Kingdom officials aimed to lower the voting age from 18 to allow 16- and 17-year olds to cast ballots in the 2029 general election. UK countries like Wales and Scotland already allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections. The new policy will allow residents of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales aged 16 and up to vote in any election.

Britain’s voting age change came with several other changes to election policy, including expanding voter ID laws and cracking down on political donations to protect against foreign election interference. Countries like Austria, Brazil, and Ecuador already allow 16-year-olds to vote, and some European Union countries such as Belgium and Germany let 16-year-olds partake in the European Parliament elections.

Is there a benefit to lowering the age? Parliament released a report on Thursday emphasizing the importance of increasing political engagement among young people. Notably, 16- and 17-year-olds already have significant rights, and it’s only fair for them to have a say in who’s running the country, the report said. Data from countries that have lowered the voting age to 16 show little to no effect on election results, according to the report.

The Thursday release also noted concerns from opponents questioning whether young people have the maturity and life experience necessary to cast a meaningful vote. Opponents also viewed the push to lower the voting age as a partisan move to gain votes, the report said. The Labour Party successfully campaigned on lowering the voting age during the 2024 election and now aims to enact the change as the ruling party.

Dig deeper: Read my previous report for more about the Labour Party’s election wins last year.