Overview

This bill proposes lowering the voting age to 16 for all elections and referendums in the UK. It also aims to automatically register 16-24 year olds on the electoral roll and improve voting accessibility for this age group, potentially by using educational establishments as polling places.

Description

The bill makes several key changes:

• Lowering the Voting Age: Reduces the minimum voting age to 16 for all parliamentary and local government elections, as well as referendums across the UK.
• Automatic Electoral Registration: Mandates automatic registration for all 16-year-old students. A report will be commissioned to assess automatic registration for all 16-24 year-olds who are not automatically registered as students.
• Polling Place Accessibility: A report will be commissioned to explore improving voting access for 16-24 year-olds. This includes assessing the use of schools as polling stations, potentially with adjusted opening hours, and using nearby buildings as alternatives.

Government Spending

The bill states that any expenditure incurred in implementing its provisions will be met from money provided by Parliament. No specific figures are provided.

Groups Affected

• 16 and 17-year-olds: Will gain the right to vote in all elections and referendums.
• 16-24 year-olds: Will be affected by the proposed automatic electoral registration and initiatives to improve voting access.
• Schools and Educational Establishments: May be involved in electoral registration processes and potentially used as polling places.
• Electoral Registration Officers: Will have additional responsibilities concerning the registration of 16 and 17-year-olds.

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