16 and 17-year-olds to be given right to vote at next general election in major shake-up

Sixteen and 17-year-olds will be given the right to vote at the next general election, ministers will confirm today.

The historic move is the biggest electoral shake-up in decades, adding more than a million people to the electorate. 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."

The move have been welcomed by experts, with one saying the Government has "clearly heard the alarm bells" on the state of the UK's democracy. 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.

It is among a string of changes that also includes closing loopholes on foreign donations to political parties through shell companies. There will be more severe fines of up to £500,000 for those who breach the rules. UK-issued bank cards will also become an acceptable form of ID at polling stations.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also said "far too many people are being deterred from voting" due to controversial Voter ID rules.

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".

It is the first time the voting ages since the 1960s. Harry Quilter-Pinner, director of think-tank the IPPR, said: "Our democracy is in crisis, and we risk reaching a tipping point where politics loses its legitimacy. The government has clearly heard these alarm bells. The policies announced today represent the biggest reform to our electoral system since 1969, more than 50 years. "

And he continued: "At a time when public trust in politics is at a low ebb, this expansion of our democracy is a vital step toward rebuilding confidence, modernising our institutions, and pushing back against the rise of populism.”

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."

But she called on the Government to go further by scrapping the House of Lords and bringing in proportional voting - a system that would benefit smaller parties.

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