UK to give 16 and 17-year-olds right to vote in all elections

The British government announced on Thursday its plan to extend voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds in all UK elections in a major shift in the country’s electoral framework.

The proposal, introduced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration, will bring voting rights in line across the United Kingdom, where teens in Scotland and Wales already vote in devolved elections.

“They’re old enough to go out to work, they’re old enough to pay taxes… and I think if you pay in, you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on,” Starmer told ITV News.

Though the change requires parliamentary approval, it is widely expected to pass given Starmer’s commanding majority secured in last year’s general election, during which the policy was a key manifesto pledge.

The proposed reform arrives at a time when Starmer faces declining popularity in opinion polls. Despite Labour’s historic win, recent surveys show the party trailing behind Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK Party, as economic pressures and political missteps erode early support.

A recent poll conducted by Merlin Strategy for ITV News among 500 16 and 17-year-olds found 33% would vote Labour, while 20% favoured Reform, 18% Green, 12% Liberal Democrats, and 10% Conservative.

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There are approximately 1.6 million 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK, while over 48 million people were eligible to vote in the last general election, which saw the lowest turnout since 2001. The next nationwide vote is scheduled for 2029.

Electoral experts say the reform could have long-term benefits. “Voting at 16 will also help more young people to cast that all-important, habit-forming vote at a point when they can be supported with civic education,” said Darren Hughes, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society.

The overhaul includes additional changes such as expanding acceptable forms of voter ID—allowing UK-issued bank cards and digital IDs—and introducing an automated system to streamline voter registration.

To guard against foreign interference, the government also plans stricter oversight of political donations. New rules will introduce checks on contributions exceeding £500 from unincorporated associations and close existing loopholes exploited by shell companies.

“By reinforcing safeguards against foreign interference, we will strengthen our democratic institutions and protect them for future generations,” said Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali.