Success for our Votes at 16 Campaign as the UK Government Announce Plans to Lower the Voting Age

Politics in Action witness success in their Votes at 16 Campaign, as the government confirm “sixteen year olds will be given the right to vote in all UK elections as part of seismic changes to modernise UK democracy."

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Politics in Action have co-ordinated a youth-led campaign to lower the voting age since 2024. Over 30 young people from across Northern Ireland have been campaigning to extend the franchise, meeting with politicians, academics and policymakers, and collaborating with organisations such as Democracy Classroom to devise a cross-sector vision for delivering votes at 16 effectively across the UK.

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On Wednesday 16th July 2025, Democracy Classroom, in collaboration with Politics in Action, launched The Roadmap to Votes at 16 in Parliament alongside Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Democracy, Rushanara Ali MP. The ‘Roadmap to Votes at 16’ sets out a shared, UK wide vision for the successful implementation of Votes at 16 across the UK. Developed through the Democracy Classroom Network, the roadmap has been co- designed with teachers, youth practitioners, and young people, and shaped in partnership with leading organisations from the education, youth, and democracy sectors.

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Today, the Government announced that they will grant 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in all UK elections through electoral reforms. Responding to the announcement, young people from our campaign group said:

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“I think the announcement today by the Government is a really positive one. I think it is a huge leap forward in our democracy and a win for equality. This is change is long overdue in Northern Ireland and as is evident from Scotland and Wales the effects of it has been nothing but positive. It has strengthened young people’s voices, meant politicians have taken us seriously and also meant young people feel more represented and feel they can have influence over the policies that will affect them.”

‍Kian Hawes, Age 13

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“Under Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, young people have the right to be heard in decisions affecting us, in line with our age and maturity. The UK signed this over 30 years ago in 1991. The NI Assembly has twice backed expanding the vote: first in 2012 and again just last year- yet we are still denied this basic right, freedom, and recognition. Evidence from Scotland and Wales shows Votes at 16 works. Support doubled in Scotland after implementation, and first-time voter turnout is at record highs. From Austria to Argentina, and Brazil to Ecuador, the message is clear: Votes at 16 is popular and successful.”

Oliver Mercer, Age 18

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“This change is long overdue in Northern Ireland. Over 12 years ago the Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of Votes for 16 and 17 year-olds. This was reaffirmed in 2024. However the Assembly failed to introduce legislation to make this happen, so it is great that these new laws will apply to all elections and referenda across the UK. It is important that our Education Minister acts to ensure that schools are properly resourced to support high quality civic education to help prepare students to vote.”

Paul Smyth, Executive Director, Politics in Action.

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