UK to Lower Voting Age to 16 in Elections

The UK government has announced plans to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 for all general elections, aligning Westminster with Scotland and Wales, where this is already in place. This major electoral reform fulfills a Labour manifesto pledge and aims to increase youth participation and restore public trust, as 16- and 17-year-olds already work, pay taxes, and can serve in the military. The reform package introduces automated voter registration and expands acceptable voter ID to include UK-issued bank cards and digital IDs, addressing barriers that previously prevented around 750,000 people from voting. Tighter rules on political donations and increased penalties for candidate intimidation are also included to safeguard democracy. Political analysts suggest the change may benefit Labour and the Greens but expect its overall electoral impact to be marginal, while critics accuse Labour of self-interest. Once enacted, the UK will join a small group of countries worldwide allowing 16-year-olds to vote in national elections.