Voting age lowered to 16 across the UK in time for next general election

The UK government has announced that the voting age in the UK will be lowered from 18 to 16 in time for the next general election. The government has said that this would make the system fairer for 16- and 17-year-olds who already work, or are members of the armed forces, but currently do not have a say on how their taxes are spent. The minimum voting age is currently 16 for local council elections in Scotland and Wales, and elections to the Senedd and Scottish Parliament. However for other elections, including the UK Parliament, local elections in England, and all elections in Northern Ireland, the minimum age is 18. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor told the BBC: “I was a mum at 16, you can go to work, you can pay your taxes and I think that people should have a vote at 16.” The last time the voting age was changed was 1969, when the age requirement was lowered from 21 to 18. With these changes to voting age, both bank cards and veteran’s cards will be valid forms of voter ID. There is also a wish to increase voter registration, through making it an easier process that does not require multiple government services. Read more here.