The UK Government has confirmed that 16- and 17-year-olds will now be able to vote in all UK elections — a change that gives over 1.6 million young people the right to shape national decisions for the first time.
It’s the most significant expansion of voting eligibility since 1969, when the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. And it’s the result of years of campaigning by students, educators, youth groups, and civil rights organisations — including many who never saw the result in their lifetimes.
At a surface level, this is a simple policy change. But underneath it, big questions remain: Will young people be equipped to use this vote? Will schools give them the tools? Will political education be taken seriously at last?
We have the right – now we need the knowledge
Currently, most young people in the UK don’t get consistent political education. Fewer than half of schools regularly teach citizenship at Key Stage 4, and political literacy is not compulsory in post-16 education — even though that’s where most 16–17-year-olds are.
This gap matters. A 2024 study found:
- 70% of under-18s could not name their local MP
- 59% didn’t know which party their MP belonged to
- 79% were unsure what their MP stood for
Without access to proper education and information, new voters risk being overwhelmed, misinformed, or disengaged before they even begin.
Giving someone the right to vote without teaching them how democracy works is like handing them a car without showing them how to drive.
Where education policy must step up
For this reform to be meaningful, schools and colleges must be supported to deliver strong, independent political education — not as a one-off, but as a sustained part of the curriculum.
NSEMM, along with other education and youth organisations, is calling for:
Political education to be made mandatory post-16
Most sixth forms and colleges aren’t required to teach political literacy. This needs to change. Young people should understand parties, manifestos, how laws are made, and how to challenge misinformation – especially in an era of deepfakes and viral disinformation.
Automatic voter registration at 16
Other countries issue automatic National Insurance numbers or ID cards — why not register people to vote at the same time? Manual registration disadvantages students in care, unstable housing, or with little parental support.
Reform or scrap voter ID rules
Many 16–17s don’t have the forms of ID required to vote — like passports or driving licences. The current rules make it harder for young, low-income and disabled people to vote. This must be addressed before the next election.
Investment in real civic spaces
Debate clubs, mock elections, youth parliaments, student councils — these help young people develop political confidence. But they are still optional. Teachers need protected time, training and policy support to deliver this well.
A long fight for full inclusion
While this reform is historic, it is not the first time the UK has had to reckon with who is — and isn’t — allowed to participate in democracy.
Black Britons and the legacy of exclusion
Until the mid-20th century, most Black Britons — including those from the Caribbean and Africa — were denied meaningful political power, even after migration. Many came as British subjects but faced systemic racism and bureaucratic obstacles.
The Windrush generation, for instance, built the NHS and contributed to public life, but many were never supported to register to vote. Others were wrongly denied the right to remain, let alone vote — a failure that continues to affect access and trust today.
Even now, Black voters are more likely to report barriers to participation, including distrust of institutions, lack of information, and lower turnout linked to disenfranchisement and inequality.
Disabled people and voting access
People with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities have long been excluded by inaccessible polling places, lack of easy-read materials, and assumptions about capacity.
Until 2000, there was no legal requirement for polling stations to be wheelchair accessible. And only recently have voters with learning disabilities been guaranteed the right to bring a companion with them to vote.
Barriers remain: in 2024, many polling stations lacked appropriate signage, support, or staff training.
📣 “Voting access isn’t just about age. It’s about being seen, supported, and taken seriously by the system.”
What are other countries doing?
The UK is not the first — or the most radical — to lower the voting age:
- Austria has allowed voting from age 16 since 2007, and evidence shows high turnout when political education is strong.
- Germany permits votes at 16 in many state elections.
- Scotland lowered the voting age for referendums and local elections in 2014, and turnout among 16–17s was higher than among 18–24s.
- Wales followed in 2021, and offers bilingual voter education for young people.
Studies show that voting young increases the chance of voting again later in life, especially when civic education is included.
Why this matters — beyond policy
Voting is about more than ticking a box. It’s about feeling like your voice matters. When 16-year-olds are told they’re “too young” or “too naive,” the message is clear: politics is for someone else.
This reform pushes back on that narrative — but only if young people are given the respect, education and access they need to fully take part.
📣 “This isn’t just about ballots. It’s about belonging.”
What should schools, students and policymakers do now?
For students:
- Check if you’re registered — and ask your school or college for support.
- Ask questions — of your MP, your teachers, your student council. Curiosity is a political skill.
- Get involved — join youth councils, write to your representatives, start a debate club.
For schools:
- Review your citizenship curriculum
- Host mock elections and debates
- Ensure equal access to political learning, especially for disabled students or those with English as an additional language.
For policymakers:
- Fund civic education
- Register young voters automatically
- Remove unfair barriers to the ballot box
Final word
The right to vote at 16 is a huge step forward. But it’s only the start.
If we want a fairer, stronger democracy, we need a fairer, stronger education system to match — one that prepares every young person, regardless of background, to ask questions, make decisions, and demand better.
This is not just about young people being ready for democracy — it’s about democracy being ready for young people.