Overview

This bill proposes to lower the voting age to 16 for all UK elections and referendums. It also introduces mandatory citizenship and constitution education in schools in England and Wales.

Description

This bill has two main parts. Part 1 lowers the voting age from 18 to 16 for all elections (general, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly, European Parliament, and local government) and referendums across the UK. It also requires electoral registration officers to take steps to register 16 and 17-year-olds and prepare to register 15-year-olds.

Part 2 introduces mandatory "Citizenship and the Constitution Education" (CCE) in maintained schools and other state-funded schools in England and Wales. This curriculum will cover topics such as collective decision-making, the UK's constitutional arrangements, and the roles of different parts of government. The curriculum's detail will be determined by school governing bodies and head teachers, but must be accurate, balanced, politically impartial, and age-appropriate, promoting acceptance of diversity and emphasizing responsibilities and rights. The Secretary of State will issue guidance and review it annually.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify the cost of implementing the changes. However, costs will likely arise from updating electoral registration systems, teacher training for the new citizenship curriculum, and potentially the development of educational resources. No figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

This bill will affect:

• 16 and 17-year-olds: They will gain the right to vote.
• Electoral registration officers: They will have new responsibilities for registering younger voters.
• Schools in England and Wales: They will be required to teach a new citizenship and constitution curriculum.
• Teachers: They will need to undergo training to deliver the new curriculum.
• Political parties: They may need to adapt their campaigning strategies to engage with younger voters.

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