Overview

This bill proposes to lower the voting age in the UK from 18 to 16 for all elections (parliamentary, local government) and referendums. It aims to grant suffrage to a wider segment of the population.

Description

The Voting Age (Comprehensive Reduction) Bill amends existing legislation to reduce the minimum voting age. Specifically:

• Representation of the People Act 1983: The definition of voting age in sections 1(1)(d) (parliamentary elections) and 2(1)(d) (local government elections) is changed from 18 to 16.
• Representation of the People Act 1985: Section 1(5) (overseas electors) is amended to lower the voting age from 18 to 16.

The bill applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and would come into effect on January 1st, 2015 (as per the original bill text; this date is obviously in the past).

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending changes. The main cost would likely be associated with updating voter registration systems and potentially running public information campaigns to inform 16 and 17-year-olds of their new voting rights. No figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• 16 and 17-year-olds: They would gain the right to vote in all elections and referendums.
• Political parties: They would need to adapt their campaigning strategies to engage with a younger electorate.
• Electoral Commission: Responsible for overseeing elections, they would need to adjust their processes to accommodate the change.
• Government Departments: Various departments would need to update their systems and procedures.

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