United Kingdom Voting Age Set to Change
The current British government, led by the Labour Party, has announced plans to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 before the next general election in 2029. Around 1.5 million more 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote in the next general election by 2029, a significant change though still a small portion (roughly 2%) of the total electorate.
According to The Daily Aus, this action fulfills an election promise made by the Labour Party during its successful campaign in July of 2024. With the voting age becoming 16, it will bring the UK’s voting age in line with Scotland and Wales, where 16 and 17 year-olds have been allowed to vote in local and regional elections since 2015. In addition, this movement will mean the largest expansion of voting rights in the UK since the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 in 1969, allowing more than 3 million young voters to join the electorate.
The government supports the change by arguing that 16-year-olds already bear adult responsibilities, like paying taxes and consenting to sexual relations. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, elected in 2020, is responsible for a wide range of policy areas including housing, planning, and community cohesion. Said that if people are “old enough to go out to work, they are old enough to pay taxes,” they should also have the right to vote.
However, this change is opposed by the Conservative opposition, who argue that 16 and 17-year-olds “don’t have the maturity” to vote and are not allowed to engage in other adult activities like buying lottery tickets, drinking alcohol, marrying, or joining the military. On the same hand, some critics also say the move is a strategic attempt “to benefit parties” that traditionally have younger voter support. For example, as of July 2025, Labour is the most popular party among 18-24 year olds in the UK of the younger voters. The younger voters show excitement, and some caution, about the prospect of voting, recognizing the need for political education and participation.
This change still needs to be approved by Parliament before becoming a law. Due to the current government’s commitment and the fact that it was an election promise, it is likely that the measure will be passed before the next election
SOURCES:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/world/europe/uk-voting-age-16.html#:~:text=Which%20parties%20might%20appeal%20to,then%20lost%20the%20subsequent%20election.
