US Edition
16 and 17 year olds will be able to vote in next general election
UNITED KINGDOM, JUL 17 – Labour's reforms aim to increase youth participation by adding 1.6 million new voters and expanding voter ID options to include bank cards, tackling barriers and foreign interference.
- On July 17, 2025, the British government revealed plans to allow 16-year-olds to vote in England and Northern Ireland beginning with the upcoming general election.
- This proposal fulfills the Labour party's manifesto commitment and seeks to increase participation after a 59.7% turnout in the July 2024 election, the lowest since 2001.
- The package includes automatic voter registration, acceptance of UK-issued bank cards as ID, and stricter campaign finance rules to modernize democracy and prevent abuses.
- Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner emphasized efforts to remove obstacles that have prevented many from taking part in the democratic process, aiming to create greater opportunities for public involvement in UK democracy.
- If approved by Parliament, these reforms would represent the largest electoral change since the voting age fell from 21 to 18 in 1969 and could enfranchise millions more voters.
289 Articles
289 Articles
UK lowers voting age to 16 in historic electoral reform
The UK's Labour Party on Thursday passed a landmark electoral reform, aligning with Scotland and Wales in lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. The change fulfills a key promise by the ruling party but garnered criticism from the Conservative Party, which questions whether 16-year-olds are old enough to vote when they can't get married or stand for election.
The British Labour Party is accused of planning to manipulate the electoral system by giving 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote, while opinion polls show that the majority of young people either would not vote or support the Labour Party. The plan has been fiercely attacked, with the Conservatives saying it is just a desperate political move to stay in power.
The UK government announced today that sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds will be allowed to vote in the next general election.
Britain is lowering the voting age from 18 to 16, the Labour government has announced, while measures are being planned to protect elections from foreign influence.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
