UK lowers the election age to 16: milestone in the election reform

UK lowers the election age to 16: milestone in the election reform

The British government announced on Thursday that 16- and 17-year-olds in all Elections should be preserved. This significant reform is to fundamentally revise the state's democratic system.

alignment of the voting rights in the United Kingdom

The planned changes that still need the approval of Parliament aim to reconcile the voting rights throughout the United Kingdom with those in Scotland and Wales, where younger voters are already at decentralized Wahlen

promotion of democratic participation

"We are acting to reduce barriers for participation and ensure that more people have the opportunity to participate in democracy in the United Kingdom," said Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in a statement.

voter participation and trends

According to a parliamentary report, the voter turnout in the general election in 2024 was 59.7 %, the lowest value since 2001. An investigation by the library of the lower house shows that countries that have reduced the election to 16 years did not have a negative effect on the election results. In fact, it is more likely that 16-year-olds go to vote than those who are only eligible to vote at 18.

Reforms of the election legislation

The Labor Party, whose popularity in the reign after an overwhelming election victory a year ago, had announced that it would reduce the election age in the event of an election victory.

Expansion of the voters' ID cards and combating foreign influence

The reforms would also expand the acceptable form of voter cards, so that UK-based bank cards and digital formats of existing ID cards, such as driver's licenses and veterans, are included. In order to counteract foreign influence, the government also plans to tighten the rules for political donations. This includes checks of articles over £ 500 ($ 670) of non -registered associations and the closure of loopholes that are used by mailbox companies.