Overview

This bill proposes to lower the voting age in the United Kingdom from 18 to 16 years old for all elections, including parliamentary, local government, and those for overseas electors.

Description

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

• The Representation of the People Act 1983 will be changed to allow 16-year-olds to vote in parliamentary elections.
• The Representation of the People Act 1983 will also be amended to permit 16-year-olds to vote in local government elections.
• The Representation of the People Act 1985 will be altered to enable 16-year-old overseas electors to vote.

The bill stipulates that the changes will come into effect one year after the bill is passed. The bill applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending changes. The cost of implementing the change (e.g., updating voter registration systems) would need further assessment.

Groups Affected

The bill directly impacts:

• 16 and 17-year-olds: They would gain the right to vote in all elections.
• Political Parties: They would need to adapt their campaigning strategies to engage a wider age range of voters.
• Electoral Commission: Responsible for overseeing elections, they would be tasked with implementing the changes to voter registration and voting processes.

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