UK voting age to be lowered to 16, among other reforms

2025, July 23

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom (UK), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government unveiled plans on Thursday to lower the voting age to 16, following successful reforms by Scotland and Wales.

According to official data cited by Reuters,the population of 16–17 year olds in the United Kingdom was 1.6 million, compared to the 48 million eligible to vote at the 2024 general election.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV News that he supported the changes for 16 and 17-year-olds, "because they're old enough to go out to work, they're old enough to pay taxes," adding that, "I think if you pay in you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on." Lowering the voting age was a manifesto promise for his party at the 2024 general election.

A poll by Merlin Strategy for ITV News found that 51% of 16–17 year olds supported lowering the voting age to 16, and that 33% of 16–17s would vote Labour. The polling also found that, among respondents in that age group, former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was the most popular of the listed politicians.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticised the move, despite his party polling second place at 20% in that age group, saying that "I don't think you should be able to vote in an election unless you're also eligible to be a candidate, and I don't think 16 year olds should stand for Parliament."

The plans were part of wider electoral reforms announced by the Ministry, including classifying bank cards as a valid form of voter ID, introducing automatic voter registration and restricting political donations.