On 17 July 2025 it was confirmed by the Prime Minister Keir Starmer that young people aged 16 and 17 in the UK will be able to vote in the next General Election, which is expected to be in 2029. This means that young people who are currently 12 and 13 will be able to have their say in how they want the future of our country to look.
As someone who has been vocal in their support of lowering the voting age to 16 I am very pleased about this change. That being said, I do understand some of the common concerns that spring up about 16 and 17 year olds voting, and some young people may be concerned about this new change themselves.
Let’s discuss those concerns, shall we?
A pre-existing precedent – and potential age discrimination?
According to UNICEF, “In most countries and territories (around 90 per cent), the voting age is 18 or above. In the 20th century, ages for voting and political participation were progressively lowered as the franchise was extended to women, the illiterate, and other groups.”. This indicates that there is a pre-existing precedent for young people voting from the age of 16 onwards, even if this is not the case in the majority of countries just yet.
People may point out that the influence of external factors in voting means that 16 and 17 year olds, who have a bit less life experience than 18 and 19 year olds, can be influenced by a significant amount of external factors. This may potentially include falling foul to propaganda. Unicef goes on to say that, ‘the most common arguments against lowering the voting age revolve around adolescents’ capacities. Some claim that they lack the cognitive ability to vote, are not sufficiently informed or politically engaged to warrant a vote, or are too vulnerable to manipulation’.
This is an argument I have often heard as an advocate for the voting age to be lowered to 16.
18 is not a magical age
However, Unicef states that, “recent research, notably in the fields of neuroscience and psychology, is redefining the understanding of ‘the evolving capacities of the child’”. This would seem to suggest that young people can, in fact, make the decision to vote if they are informed enough to enable them to do so.
This may indicate that young people, if taught to think critically, would not be too vulnerable to voting manipulation, and that they do not lack the cognitive ability to vote at all. At the end of the day, it’s not as though we’re suggesting that toddlers should be given the right to vote; a decree like that would most likely be perceived as downright idiotic.
No, this is 16 and 17 year olds we’re talking about, who are close enough to the seemingly magical age of 18. People don’t magically grow up between the night before their eighteenth birthday and the big day itself. As a 21 year-old, I would know. The point is, 18 is not a magical age, and should not have been treated as such when it comes to the matter of voting.
Concerns about child protection thresholds
UNICEF also shared that they were concerned about what they consider to be child protection thresholds. They state that, “Promoting 16 as the minimum voting age could trigger a debate about a reduction in child protection thresholds,” which keeps vulnerable minors safe from harm, and takes their decision-making capacities into account.
Further explaining that, many different countries “impose different age thresholds to distinguish the rights and responsibilities of children from adults: for criminal responsibility, the right to drive, drink alcohol, smoke, get married, serve in the military, etc.” As with voting, this is decided in order to keep children away from situations that only adults are capable of being put in, and making decisions that children are not able to make at certain ages. Naturally, this makes sense.
They rightly point out, “These inconsistencies are hard to correct and do not reflect human rights law or scientific evidence. It would be important to ensure that lowering the voting age is not equated to a justification to lower other thresholds.” I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Just because the voting age is lowered, it does not mean to say that children should not be protected in other areas. We must do our utmost to ensure that lowering the voting age will not lower these thresholds, which ultimately are in place to protect children and keep their best interests at heart.
Informed decisions and legal capabilities
At the heart of this is the concept that 16 and 17 year olds, just like their young adult counterparts, are capable of making informed decisions.
But what are informed decisions, exactly?
According to Merriam-Webster, an informed decision is simply defined as “a decision based on facts or information,” with the example given being ‘voters making informed decisions.’ Many people argue that young people below 18 are incapable of making informed decisions, in spite of the fact that it’s thought that the pre-frontal cortex doesn’t stop developing until at least 25. Yet, 18 to 25 years old (my own age demographic) are able to vote. Why is that?
Under UK law, the consensus is that you are legally considered an adult at 18. The age of criminal responsibility is 10 in England and Wales and 12 in Scotland, you have to sign your own passport from 12 onwards, you can get a part-time job with ‘light work’ at 14. At 16, the age at which young people can officially vote in the next election, you can already legally consent to sex, change your name, join the armed forces, leave home sans parental responsibility and work in training places.
16 is also the school-leaving age, although in England you have to stay in some form of education or training until 18. You can drive at 17, and donate blood without parental consent. Prior to February 2023, you could marry with parental consent at 16. Yet, for years, you could not vote at this age. If a 16 or 17 year old can legally work (and therefore pay taxes), then they should be allowed a vote. The classic Suffragette slogan, ‘no representation without taxation’ feels apt here.
You could do so much, but not vote. To me, this comes off as unfair. As for making informed decisions-many adults also do not make informed decisions, particularly those from economically and educationally deprived areas, which means that they are more susceptible to being taken in by political propaganda. This is likely both through a lack of critical thinking skills being taught to them in school, and a lack of political education.
Are young people likely to use their voting rights?
Some people may think that young people will not vote, but if they are given enough information to vote, they are more likely to turn up to the polls, according to Young Citizens. They posit that, ‘seventy-one percent of young people said they would vote in the upcoming General Election if they could, of which 78% felt informed about political issues. Amongst those who said they would not vote, this dropped to just 36%.’ This indicates that educating young people on politics helps motivate them to vote, and letting educated and informed 16 and 17 year olds vote must be the way forward for our country.
This is what I believe should change. A basic, non-biased political education should be accessible to all, discussing party manifestos and how our voting system works. We also need to ensure that we nurture critical thinking skills in young people, especially in the world we find ourselves in now, where the far-right are more prominent and given more air space than ever.
Concerns about young people voting Reform
The last concern I would like to highlight here is the concern about young people voting for Reform UK. This is understandable, especially considering the fact that Reform does have some level of popularity amongst young people, as suggested by the fact that several students are attempting to set up an affiliated Reform society at Lancaster University, and the fact that 19-year-old George Finch was recently elected as a councillor for Warwickshire council. Those worried about this obviously do not agree with Reform’s policies, and no doubt mean well, but it should be the individual’s choice what party they vote for no matter what age they are.
Concluding thoughts
I believe that this change is a positive thing, regardless of whether the government did this for their own benefit or not. In order for young people to make informed decisions when voting, though, I do believe that their critical thinking skills need developing throughout their time at school. In addition to this, they need to be carefully and neutrally educated on the UK political system (the operative word being ‘neutrally’).
I think there is a danger of young people voting for parties who may, to some, not have the country’s best interests at heart, but evidence clearly refutes this. Although this law will make a small difference, it will make a difference nonetheless. Providing that this does not set a dangerous precedent regarding the UK child protection thresholds, then I believe that allowing 16 and 17 year olds to vote is a good thing.
Although I am broadly worried about this country’s political future, I am hopeful about this new law and hope that one day, we can see the change we wish for in our country, and in our world.
