Labour Is Giving The Vote To 16-Year-Olds – But Half Of Them Don't Want It

Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds are to be given the right to vote in elections across the UK for the first time – even though half of them do not want it.

Ministers confirmed on Thursday that the government was making good on Labour’s manifesto commitment to lower the current voting age for general elections from 18.

Keir Starmer said if someone is old enough to work and pay tax, they should have a say in how the country is tun.

He told ITV News: “I think it’s really important that 16 and 17-year-olds have the vote because they’re old enough to go out to work, they’re old enough to pay taxes, and I think if you pay in you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on, which way the government should go.

“So I’m really pleased that we’re able to bring more young people into our democracy and give them a say over how their taxes are going to be paid and what they’re going to be used for.”

The move will bring the rest of the UK into line with Scotland and Wales, where 16 and 17-year-olds are already allowed to vote.

But a poll by Merlin Strategy for ITV News suggested that only half of 16 and 17-year-olds will actually take up the opportunity to vote.

It found that 49% of those in that age group did not believe the current voting age should be lowered, with just 51% saying it should.

And only 18% of them said they would definitely vote if an election was held tomorrow.

The reforms were outlined in the government’s election strategy paper, which also includes plans to make voter registration easier and extend the ID needed to vote to bank cards.

Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said: “Participation is a vital sign of the health of our democracy. If fewer people vote, our democracy becomes weaker.

“The measures outlined by the government today are vital steps to ensure barriers are removed to voting and more people can exercise their fundamental democratic right.

“Bringing in votes at 16 will end the absurd and unfair situation where teenagers can already vote in Wales and Scotland but not in England and Northern Ireland purely by dint of where they live.

“Voting at 16 will also help more young people to cast that all-important, habit-forming vote at a point when they can be supported with civic education.”