On 17th July 2025, the Labour government announced that the right to vote will be extended to 16- and 17-year-olds. This is a long-running debate, with many parties in favour and against the move. But what is the ‘votes at 16’ debate, and why is it important?
What’s the debate?
At a UK-wide level, the voting age is 18 years old, following the 1969 Representation of the People Act. However, there have been instances of votes at 16 during elections in parts of the UK. The Scottish Independence referendum in 2014 allowed 16-year-olds to vote for the first time, and in the following year, voting at 16 was granted for all Scottish Parliament elections.
The main reason that many supporters of votes at 16 give is that a range of rights are already granted to 16- and 17-year-olds, such as joining the military and changing one’s name by deed poll. The right to decide on the future of your country is also an important issue that could help to educate young people about the political system. However, opponents say that people this age may not be mature enough to make an informed decision.
Who’s in favour?
Many key political parties in the UK are in favour of votes at 16. The Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats and SNP stood on manifestos in 2024 pledging to grant 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote. This move is also supported by the Electoral Reform Society, a UK-based pressure group advocating for changes to the electoral system.
The ERS comments that “extending the right to vote would allow a seamless transition from learning about voting to putting it into practice.” By allowing students and young people to engage directly with the electoral process, they will become better educated about the system they will enter later in life.
Who’s against votes at 16?
The Conservatives and Reform UK both advocate against extending the right to vote to 16- and 17-year-olds. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said that “even though we get lots of votes”, the party won’t support the government’s measures as 16- and 17-year-olds cannot stand for parliament, so they shouldn’t be able to vote either.
Shadow Conservative Minister Paul Holmes said in the Commons: “Why does this government think a 16-year-old can vote but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket, an alcoholic drink, marry, or go to war, or even stand in the elections they’re voting in?”
Others also point to the fact that 16-year-olds may not be mature enough to make an informed decision about their future. Many are still in full-time education and are not affected by issues that working adults could experience.
The government confirms votes at 16: why?
On 17th July 2025, the Labour government announced that the right to vote for 16- and 17-year-olds will be granted before the next UK general election in 2029, so the debate looks like it will be settled within the near future.
The House of Commons breaks for summer recess on 18th July, so there is no chance for parliamentary scrutiny until September, something that the Conservative Party are critical of the government on.
In order for votes at 16 to pass, a new electoral reform bill will be brought forward in the House of Commons. If it is passed, it will then head to the House of Lords for amending and be granted Royal Assent once it has completed the legislative process.
There is mixed reasoning behind the government’s decision to bring in votes at 16. Recent polling by YouGov found that Labour is the most popular party among 18- to 24-year-olds at 28%, followed by the Green Party. Labour stands to gain most from extending the vote further to younger voters, so this could be a strong political decision. It has been met by criticism from some right-wing parties, including the Conservatives, who have accused the government of ‘rigging’ future elections.
How can I learn more about votes at 16?
So, what happens next? Votes at 16 is a key debate within the A Level Politics specification. Study Dog has resources to help students navigate this key debate as part of our UK Politics course. You’ll dive into the different sides of the debate, and come up with your own conclusions.
