The UK government plans to lower the voting age to 16, enabling approximately 1.5 million 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the next general election.
This change will be introduced as part of a new Elections Bill, which also includes expanding acceptable voter ID to UK-issued bank cards, moving towards automatic voter registration, and tightening rules on political donations to guard against foreign influence.
Although 16-year-olds can already vote in some elections in Scotland and Wales, the voting age remains 18 for UK-wide and English local 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, which way the government should go," Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV News.
Minister at the Minstry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Rushanara Ali described the move as “seismic” and said it would give young people a greater voice in the democratic process.
Ali noted the policy would compel politicians to prioritise youth concerns on issues such as crime, education, employment, and housing.
Voter ID
Labour previously opposed voter ID laws introduced in 2023, but now aims to resolve inconsistencies without fully abolishing the policy. Under new proposals, digital bank cards could be accepted as ID, provided proper safeguards are implemented to prevent misuse.
The government is also developing an automated voter registration system to help tackle the problem of nearly seven million UK residents being missing or incorrectly listed on the electoral register, particularly among young people and renters.
Additionally, reforms to political donation rules are being proposed to prevent foreign interference. Parties would need to verify the UK or Irish ties of companies donating to them, ensuring they are based, owned, or significantly operated in the UK or Ireland and capable of funding donations through post-tax profits. The Electoral Commission’s power to impose fines would increase to a maximum of £500,000 (around $669,000) for breaches of these rules.
Uzbekistan has increased up electricity exports to Tajikistan as part of wider regional efforts to stabilise energy supplies during periods of seasona...
Iran has summoned the ambassador of Republic of Cyprus Petros Nacouzis over remarks made by his country regarding Iran’s territorial integrity....
The European Union faces a critical decision on how to finance Ukraine’s war effort, divided over whether to use frozen Russian assets or jointly bo...
Warner Bros Discovery’s board rejected Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion hostile bid on Wednesday (17 December), citing insufficient financing g...
Kyrgyzstan has joined the TRACECA multilateral permit system, a move analysts say will deepen regional integration, cut transport costs and ease cross...
Uzbekistan has increased up electricity exports to Tajikistan as part of wider regional efforts to stabilise energy supplies during periods of seasonal shortage and reduced water availability.
Iran has summoned the ambassador of Republic of Cyprus Petros Nacouzis over remarks made by his country regarding Iran’s territorial integrity.
More than 17 million people in Afghanistan are facing acute food insecurity this winter, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia mark a dangerous escalation in one of Southeast Asia’s oldest and most sensitive disputes.
At least 37 people have been killed in flash floods triggered by torrential rain in Morocco's Atlantic coastal province of Safi, Moroccan authorities said on Monday (15 December).
Cambodia must be the first to declare a ceasefire in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand said on Tuesday (16 December), as fighting continued despite earlier claims that hostilities would stop and at least 52 people have been killed on both sides.
Schools across Cambodia and Thailand were forced to close on Monday (15 December) as border clashes between the two countries escalated, with the death toll reaching at least 40 and hundreds of thousands of people displaced, according to officials and local media.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is examining whether Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire agreement by conducting an airstrike on Saturday (13 December) that killed Hamas leader Raad Saad.
Ukraine’s domestic security service, the SBU, says it struck a Russian Kilo‑class submarine in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, causing critical damage.
The European Union faces a critical decision on how to finance Ukraine’s war effort, divided over whether to use frozen Russian assets or jointly borrow funds through 2027.
More than 17 million people in Afghanistan are facing acute food insecurity this winter, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
In the complex world of international diplomacy, the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have raised significant questions about the role of third-party mediation.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 17th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Plans for a $500 million Trump Tower in Belgrade have been cancelled after protests and a legal investigation. The project, backed by Jared Kushner, former White House adviser, was halted after Serbian prosecutors indicted officials over removing the site's cultural heritage status.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment