Let's Give Young People a Voice: Why the UK Should Lower the Voting Age to 16

By Jacob Barnsley

Young people in the UK are often told that they are the future of our country, yet their voices are not always heard when it comes to the important decisions that will shape that future. This is particularly true when it comes to voting. The voting age in the UK is currently 18, meaning that those who are 16 and 17 are not able to vote in general elections, referendums, or local elections.

Many young people believe that this is unfair and that the voting age should be lowered to 16. When campaigners suggest lowering the voting age, the common response is that 16- and 17-year-olds are too immature to make informed decisions. However, this misses the real danger: that growing numbers of young people may not vote at all.

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds would increase their participation in the democratic process. In Scotland, 16- and 17-year-olds were given the right to vote in the independence referendum in 2014. A study by the Electoral Commission found that 75% of young people in this age group turned out to vote, compared to 54% of 18- to 24-year-olds. This demonstrates that when given the opportunity to vote, young people are more than capable of engaging with the democratic process and making informed decisions.

Extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds is also a matter of fairness. At 16, young people can join the army with parental consent, pay taxes, and leave school. They can legally have sex, get married with parental consent, and even change their gender. So why are they not trusted to vote? Lowering the voting age would give young people a say in decisions that will affect their lives, and allow them to have a stake in the future of our country.

Moreover, extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds would encourage young people to engage more broadly in civic life. Research suggests that when young people are given the opportunity to vote, they are more likely to participate in other forms of civic engagement, such as volunteering, protesting, and joining political parties. This increased engagement can help to build a stronger, more active democracy.

Critics of lowering the voting age argue that young people are not informed enough to vote. However, this is a flawed argument. Many 16- and 17-year-olds are politically engaged and informed, and those who are not can be taught. Schools could play a role in educating young people about politics, and political parties could engage with young people directly to ensure that they have the information they need to make informed decisions.

Extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds is not only a matter of fairness, but also a way to encourage young people to engage more broadly in civic life and to participate in the democratic process. As the future of our country, young people deserve to have a say in the decisions that will shape their lives. It is time to trust them with the vote.