Labour Plans Voting Age Drop Adding 1.5 Million Youth Voters

Gerrymandering remains a contentious issue in U.S. politics, exemplified by the Republican-dominated Texas legislature's July special session considering a district redrawing plan backed by President Donald Trump aimed at bolstering Republican prospects ahead of the 2026 midterms, which has prompted Democratic threats of retaliatory actions in states they control. In the UK, the Labour Party under Keir Starmer is facing challenges with declining support among British Asian voters, particularly Sunni-dominant Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, partly due to Labour's stance on Middle East conflicts; this shift benefits parties like the Greens and the Workers Party of Britain. Concurrently, Labour is proposing significant internal party rule changes at its annual conference to tighten governance and reduce burdens on smaller local parties. Additionally, Labour's government plans to lower the voting age to 16 and 17-year-olds for the next general election, a move criticized for inconsistencies given other age-related legal restrictions. Meanwhile, in India, the Supreme Court has expressed concern over the Enforcement Directorate's conduct in politically sensitive cases, highlighting accusations by the opposition Congress party that the Modi government is using the agency more for political vendettas than electoral strategy.