Should 16 and 17-year-olds be allowed to vote? Have your say
The voting age will be lowered to 16 in a move that will add around 1.5 million more people to the electorate - and we want to hear your thoughts on the landmark change.
Ministers will confirm the electoral shake-up today, granting teenagers the right to vote in the next general election, which must be called by August 2029. Last year, Labour's manifesto vowed to lower the voting age to 16, bringing it in line with Scottish and Welsh elections.
Announcing the move, Keir Starmer 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… I think if you pay in you should have the opportunity to say what you want your money spent on."
It marks the most significant change to the electorate since 1969, when the voting age was dropped from 21 to 18. Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said: "For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline."
She said ministers are "taking action to break down barriers to participation". Minister for Democracy Rushanara Ali described it as a "generational step forward", while the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government added, "far too many people are being deterred from voting" due to controversial Voter ID rules.
Under existing rules 16 and 17-year-olds are already able to cast a ballot in both local and devolved and local elections in Scotland and Wales - but not in England and Northern Ireland. The age of voting at a general election currently stands at 18 for all four corners of the UK.
Green Party MP, Ellie Chowns said: "On this one, Labour have got it right. Giving 16 and 17-year-olds the vote is a long-overdue step towards a stronger, more inclusive democracy. Young people have powerful voices and a vital stake in decisions about their future — it's only right that they have a say at the ballot box."
However, other politicians have slammed the changes, accusing the PM of trying to "rig future elections", reports the Independent. It comes as an ITV News poll revealed that nearly 50 percent of 16 and 17-year-olds don't believe they should be allowed to vote.
Following the landmark announcement, we want to know if you think 16 and 17-year-olds should be allowed to vote. Have your say by voting in our poll HERE to have your say.
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