Britain plans to allow voting from the age of 16: what else will change in electoral legislation
17 July 2025 20:56
The UK government intends to lower the minimum voting age to 16. This is one of the key reforms proposed by the Labor Party, which is fulfilling its election promise.
This was reported byThe Guardian, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The initiators of the reform note that this decision is fair, as 16- and 17-year-olds already have the right to work and serve in the army. In Scotland and Wales, voting from the age of 16 is already allowed in local and parliamentary elections – now the new norm should be extended to the entire territory of the United Kingdom.
Key changes envisaged by the reform:
- More documents for voter identification – bank and veteran cards will be added to the list.
- Automation of registration processes – citizens will not have to re-enter the same data in different government services.
- Strengthening control over donations – companies that finance political forces will have to prove that they make their profits in the UK or Ireland.
- Fight against fictitious companies – the verification of donors and their ties to the country will be intensified.
- New penalties – fines for violation of election finance rules will increase to £500,000, and entering false information in declarations will become a criminal offense.
- Candidate protection – no longer willcandidates be required to publish their home addresses in election materials. People convicted of harassing or intimidating candidates will be banned from running for office.
These changes should make the electoral system more transparent, accessible and secure.
