Civic Dignitaries and Members: Age
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 2313 on Members: Age, whether she plans to lower the candidacy age to 16 for (a) Members of Parliament, (b) elected Mayors, (c) councillors and (d) Police and Crime Commissioners, in the context of lowering the voting age to 16.
Answered by Alex Norris
As per the manifesto, the Government is committed to act during this Parliament to give 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all elections, strengthening our democracy, empowering young people to participate and building an informed and empowered electorate.
Regarding the candidacy age for members of the House of Commons, elected Mayors, councillors and Police and Crime Commissioners the Government currently has no plans to change the eligibility criteria.
Lowering the voting age will be a major change to the electoral franchise, with implications for the wider electoral sector. Successful design and implementation of the change will require careful planning and engagement with stakeholders in the electoral sector, devolved and local government, education and civil society and, importantly, young people themselves.
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