UK To Reduce Voting Age To 16, These Countries Have Already Done It
The step is aimed at ensuring maximum participation in all elections once the proposed changes are written into law. The move will grant around 1.5 million 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote when the country goes to the polls for the next general election in 2029, BBC reported.
But not all parties supported the idea.
While Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that young people should have the opportunity to say what they want their money spent on, Conservative MP Paul Holmes said the government's proposal was "hopelessly confused".
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said he didn't support lowering the voting age to 16 "even though we get lots of votes".
Apart from the voting age, the government also plans to expand the purview of UK-issued bank cards, which will be treated as legitimate voter ID in Great Britain, but they must have the elector's name, according to reports.
Not just that, once the changes come into effect, people will be able to apply for a postal vote at least 14 days before a poll. Earlier, the deadline was 11 days. This is to ensure people get their ballot in time.
The proposed law will bring uniformity as far as the age of voting rights across Britain is concerned. In Scotland and Wales, youngsters could already vote to elect their representatives to the devolved Parliament, but not so for the British polls.
Countries where the voting age is 16:
In Europe, only Austria, Malta, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have granted voting rights to people who are at least 16 years old. Among other nations, Brazil, Argentina and Cuba, too, have voting age reduced to 16, according to The Guardian.
Parts of Germany, Israel, and Estonia allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in some, if not all, elections. While 16-year-olds are allowed to vote in Nicaragua, the legal voting age in Indonesia, East Timor, Ethiopia, North Korea, and Sudan is 17.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Cong to decide on Raj's role in MVA if he & Uddhav reunite: Ramesh Chennithala
PUNE: The Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will take a call on Raj Thackeray's role in the alliance if he and his cousin Uddhav Thackeray formally reunite; the party's Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala said on Tuesday. Chennithala accused the ECI of ignoring the information provided by the Opposition about suspected malpractices in various constituencies. The remark came at the end of the Congress's two-day, state-level workshop, attended by Chennithala and state unit president Harshwardhan Sapkal. Asked about speculation following Uddhav and Raj seen sharing a stage recently, Chennithala told media persons, 'We have no objection if both brothers come together — that is their family matter. But as far as the MVA is concerned, once they reunite, we will hold discussions within the party and make a decision.' Also Read | Congress condemns Israeli envoy's reply to Priyanka on Gaza post, accuses Modi of 'moral cowardice' Chennithala attacked Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, questioning why the CM was speaking on behalf of the Election Commission of India (ECI) after Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about its functioning. 'Rahul Gandhi asked the ECI questions yet the Maharashtra CM replied on the ECI's behalf. Why?' Chennithala wondered aloud. Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day workshop of the Congress in Pune, Chennithala alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ECI were working in collusion to undermine the democratic process during elections in the country. 'Vote chori' was first raised in Maharashtra. After the results of the assembly polls were declared, we raised doubts over the electoral process. It was obvious that the votes had been stolen. The BJP and the ECI had jointly snatched away our victory. This happened in Haryana as well, and the same will happen in Bihar,' Chennithala said. Also Read | Cong cites Jagdeep Dhankhar's move before he quit, takes a jibe over judge removal notice in Lok Sabha He accused the ECI of ignoring the information provided by the Opposition about suspected malpractices in various constituencies. In the LS elections held in May 2024, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was humbled by the MVA, with the Opposition bloc cornering 30 out of the 48 seats; Chennithala said. 'The MVA won the maximum number of seats in Maharashtra in the 2024 LS elections but 'vote chori' turned the mandate in favour of the Mahayuti in the assembly polls, held five months later,' he alleged. Also Read | 'Vote theft': BJP's lone Kerala seat in focus, Congress flags discrepancies in Thrissur voter list Furthermore, Chennithala said, 'The ECI cannot intimidate the leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, by sending him notices after he exposed the vote theft in Maharashtra and Bihar.' Gandhi is leading the protests against 'vote chori' to save democracy without any political motive. The Congress will intensify protests across the country by reaching out to the masses and conducting signature campaigns, Chennithala said. While the ECI has not clarified the 'vote chori' concerns, the BJP is defending the poll watchdog, Chennithala claimed. He alleged that the tariffs slapped on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump reflected the failure of India's foreign policy. 'The trade tariff has started hurting businesses. The country now remembers Indira Gandhi's valiant leadership during the India-Pakistan war in 1971. In contrast, our incumbent Prime Minister is scared to speak out against threats by the US,' Chennithala said. He claimed that the Mahayuti dispensation is running the 'most corrupt' government in the history of Maharashtra. 'They did not keep their promise on the farm loan waiver. The flagship Ladki Bahin scheme failed as many women were excluded from its ambit,' Chennithala said. He pointed at the allegations against minister of state for home, Yogesh Kadam, in connection with a dance bar in Mumbai and the controversy over cabinet minister Manikrao Kokate playing a game of rummy on his mobile phone during a legislative session. Chennithala accused the BJP of deliberately delaying the long-pending elections to the local bodies in the state. Whereas Sapkal, addressing the party workers, said that the Congress has remained strong despite some leaders quitting. 'Those who left should not be spared any thought. We have a strong base. With local self-government elections coming up, the party must stand united to win in the municipal corporations and Zilla Parishads,' he said. The two-day workshop, held at a private resort near Khadakwasla dam, saw participation from all state-level leaders and office-bearers of the Congress. (with agency inputs)
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Union Cabinet approves 2 semiconductor projects worth Rs 4,009cr for Odisha
Bhubaneswar: Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved two major semiconductor manufacturing units worth Rs 4,009 crore for Odisha. The two projects, to be set up in Bhubaneswar's Info Valley, will generate thousands of high-skilled jobs, catalyse electronics manufacturing and help place Odisha on the global semiconductor map, sources said. The two manufacturing units will be built by SiCSem and 3D Glass. Given the growing demand for semiconductors in telecom, automotive, data centres, consumer electronics and industrial electronics, the newly approved projects will significantly contribute to creating an ' Atmanirbhar Bharat ', official sources said. Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Cabinet's approval, chief minister Mohan Majhi said in an X post, "The recent amendment of the Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing and Fabless Policy, aimed at enhancing investment viability, competitiveness, and sustainability, together with this significant Cabinet approval, marks a major milestone in the state's industrial and technological advancement. I look forward to continued partnership between the state and central govts to further this strategic initiative for the comprehensive development of Odisha and the nation." SiCSem Pvt Ltd, in collaboration with UK-based Clas-SiC Wafer Fab Ltd, will set up India's first commercial compound semiconductor fabrication facility here. The plant will manufacture silicon carbide (SiC) devices, known for their efficiency in high-power applications, with an annual capacity of 60,000 wafers and 96 million packaged units. The SiC devices will have applications across critical sectors, including missiles, defence equipment, electric vehicles (EVs), railway, fast chargers, data centre racks, consumer appliances and solar power inverters. The facility is expected to give India a strategic edge in producing next-generation power electronics domestically. The second project, by US-headquartered 3D Glass Solutions Inc (3DGS), will introduce the world's most advanced semiconductor packaging technology. The unit will manufacture glass interposers, silicon bridges and 3D heterogeneous integration (3DHI) modules. The component are crucial for miniaturisation, high performance and energy efficiency in electronics. With a planned capacity of about 69,600 glass panel substrates, 50 million assembled units, and 13,200 3DHI modules annually, the facility will cater to applications in defence, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, RF and automotive electronics, photonics and co-packaged optics. Officials said the two projects will not only bring cutting-edge technology to Odisha but also create a ripple effect in the state's electronics ecosystem, encouraging ancillary industries and boosting technical skill development. Apart from two Odisha projects, the Cabinet also approved one project each for Punjab and Andhra Pradesh under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailed the Cabinet's decision to set up the two units in Odisha. He said the decision is a pivotal moment for the state, emphasising its potential to create jobs and generate substantial revenue. Pradhan expressed his gratitude to the PM and highlighted that this move marks a new chapter in the 'Purvodaya' mission. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
US offers $5 million reward for arrest of Haitian gang leader
The United States offered a $5 million reward on Tuesday for the arrest of Haitian gang leader Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier for allegedly violating US sanctions. Haitian gang leader Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier has been under US Treasury Department sanctions since 2020 and UN sanctions since 2022.(REUTERS) Cherizier, 48, and another man, Bazile Richardson, have been indicted on charges of conspiring to transfer funds from the United States to fund gang activities in Haiti, the Justice Department said. "There's a good reason that there's a $5 million reward for information leading to Cherizier's arrest," US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said at a press conference. "He's a gang leader responsible for heinous human rights abuses, including violence against American citizens in Haiti." Cherizier has been under US Treasury Department sanctions since 2020 and UN sanctions since 2022. The former policeman heads an alliance of gangs in Haiti dubbed the "G9 Family," whose members are accused of murder, robbery, extortion, rape, targeted assassinations, drug trafficking and kidnappings. The alliance participated in an organised assault last year that ultimately led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was replaced by a frail transitional council. The Justice Department said that Cherizier and Richardson, a naturalised US citizen who was arrested in Texas last month, raised funds from members of the Haitian diaspora in the United States and had the money transferred to intermediaries in the Caribbean nation. Cherizier allegedly used the funds to pay salaries to members of his gang and purchase firearms. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, with swaths of the country and the vast majority of the capital, Port-au-Prince, under the control of armed gangs. Despite the deployment of a Kenyan-led multinational force to back up Haiti's police, violence has continued to soar. At least 3,141 people have been killed in the first half of this year, according to figures released last month by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. "Cherizier and (Richardson) sought to raise funds in the United States to bankroll Cherizier's violent criminal enterprise, which is driving a security crisis in Haiti," Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg said. 'The National Security Division does not tolerate criminal gang fundraising in the United States, and will continue to pursue those who enable Haiti's violence and instability.'
