Plans to lower the voting age means 16-year-olds will have the right to vote at all UK elections
Poll Card UK / Credit: Abi Begum (via Flickr)
Plans to lower the voting age as part of ‘seismic changes’ to modernise UK democracy means 16-year-olds will have the right to vote.
The Government has announced this week that, as part its key manifesto commitment to help ‘restore trust in politics’ through its Plan for Change, both 16 and 17-year-olds will be given the right to vote in all UK elections – meaning young people who ‘already contribute to society’ will get to have a say on the issues that affect them.
The newly-published plans will ‘boost democratic engagement’ in a changing world, according to the Government, while working towards restoring trust in UK democracy.
“For too long, public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline,” commented Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner.
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
“We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change, and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give sixteen year olds the right to vote.
“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.”
On top of the lowering of the voting age, the Government is also planning to go further than ever before to make sure eligible voters are not deterred from voting, and will be doing this by expanding voter ID to allow the use of UK-issued bank cards as an accepted form of ID at the polling station.
This is alongside harnessing more digital options to support voters and polling station staff – including allowing accepted IDs such as the Veteran Card and UK driving licence to be used at polling stations when they become available in digital format.
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The Government says this change will allow it to continue to ‘protect the integrity’ of the UK electoral system, while allowing greater accessibility.
Featured Image – Abi Begum (via Flickr)