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Voting Rights: Young People

Asked by Blake StephensonConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 20 March 2025UIN 37784

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether changing the minimum voting age would necessitate a change in the minimum age for voter registration.

Answered by Jim McMahon

The government is committed to delivering on the manifesto commitment to give 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all elections during this Parliament, strengthening our democracy, empowering young people to participate and building an informed and empowered electorate. We want young people to find their voice and exercise their right to vote – registering to vote is a vital first step towards doing that.

This will be a major change to the electoral franchise. We are working across government and with a wide range of stakeholders to design and implement the change effectively. We are considering what other measures may be required in the implementation of this change to ensure young people have the tools they need and feel empowered to both register to vote and to vote, including the minimum age for voter registration.

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