UK Govt To Lower Voting Age To 16, Expands Voter ID Rules To Restore Public Trust And Empower Youth In Democracy; VIDEO

London, Jul 17: The UK government on Thursday announced that it will lower the voting age from 18 to 16 years in time for the next general election expected in 2029, a manifesto commitment made by the Labour Party when it was voted last year.

The move will bring UK-wide elections in line with the devolved Scotland and Wales regions as part of what the British government described as one of the biggest changes to UK democracy in a generation.

The plans also include an expansion of the voter ID system to permit the use of UK-issued bank cards as an accepted form of ID at polling stations, to ensure eligible voters are not "deterred from voting".

Today we’re delivering on our promise to give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote.

Young people already contribute to society by working, paying taxes and serving in the military. It's only right they can have a say on the issues that affect them. #VotesAt16

— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) July 17, 2025

“For too long, public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline,” said UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, marking the release of a strategy paper that sets in motion plans to lower the voting age.

We're modernising our democracy for the 21st century by extending the vote to 16 and 17 year olds. We’re committed to restoring public trust in our democracy.
#VotesAt16 pic.twitter.com/2Ua1THomlO

— Rushanara Ali MP 💙 (@rushanaraali) July 17, 2025

"We are modernising our democracy, so that it is fit for the 21st century. By delivering our manifesto commitment to extend the vote to 16 and 17 year olds, we are taking a generational step forward in restoring public trust and boosting engagement in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change,” said Rushanara Ali, Minister for Democracy in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

The new strategy covers the creation of a new digital “Voter Authority Certificate” to ensure Electoral Registration Officers can meet the digital needs of voters, reduce printing costs and ensure faster delivery.

#BREAKING

UK Lowers Voting Age to 16

PM Keir Starmer announces voting age will drop from 18 to 16 for all UK elections

Says 16-year-olds earn, pay taxes, and deserve a voice in democracy pic.twitter.com/grN81EAkQ7

— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) July 17, 2025

An increasingly automated voter registration system is intended to make it easier for people to register to vote and reduce the need to fill out their details across different government services on multiple occasions.

In order to boost transparency and accountability in politics, the MHCLG said it will also be closing loopholes that may allow foreign donors via “shell companies” to influence UK political parties.

Meanwhile, new requirements on unincorporated associations will mandate checks on donations over GBP 500 to tackle foreign interference and protect UK democracy from those who attempt to undermine it.

“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,” added Rayner.

The changes will form part of an elections bill to be tabled in Parliament, besides secondary legislation to address the implementation schedule. The MHCLG said it will be incorporating learning from democracies such as Australia and Canada, which have high rates of legitimate voter registration via automated systems.

At the same time, far too many people are being deterred from voting because of voter ID rules, with the Electoral Commission finding that 4 per cent of non-voters at the 2024 general election saying that a lack of voter ID was a key reason they didn’t vote, equating to around three quarters of a million people across Great Britain, the ministry said.

“Through the new plans, the government is going further to allow UK-issued bank cards to be used as ID when voting, making it far easier for more voters to meet the requirements. This change will allow us to continue to protect the integrity of the UK electoral system, while allowing greater accessibility,” it noted.

As bank debit and credit cards are issued after an applicant has passed necessary security checks for a bank account, they will ensure that a widely and commonly carried item will be included in the range of identification documents already accepted at polling booths.

These measures will strike the right balance by continuing to protect voters from the risk of impersonation, while also removing barriers to ensure legitimate voters are not prevented or discouraged from exercising their right to vote, MHCLG asserted.

UK PM Keir Starmer Unveils F-35A Fighter Jet Deal, Revives RAF Nuclear Role After Cold War

Further reforms are aimed at cracking down on "unacceptable practices", delivering tougher sentences for those who intimidate campaigners and stronger protections for candidates in public life by removing the requirement for their home address to be published and openly available.

(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)