Petition · past parliament

Set the voting age for a second EU referendum to 16.

Rejected 18 signatures

What the petition asks

The decision will come into force in just over 2 years’ time (2 years after the Article 50 notification date). Those citizens that will be 18 at the implementation date should have a right to vote.

The younger a citizen is the more effect the decision will have on their lives.
The exclusion of this most affected group from the right to be part of the decision at the first referendum was unfair and unjustified.

The 16-17 age group were entitled to vote in the Scottish Referendum. There was no justification to refuse this age group the same right as they had in the Scottish referendum

The exclusion of the 16-17 olds from the right to vote in the referendum will lead to more alienation and a greater rift between the generations.

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

The EU referendum has already taken place. It is therefore no longer possible for the franchise (the groups of people who are entitled to vote) to be changed.

If you would like the UK voting age to be lowered to 16, you might like to sign this petition instead:

Reduce the legal voting age to 16

Timeline

25 Jun 2016 Petition opened for signatures
28 Jun 2016 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 18
Status Rejected
Rejected 28 Jun 2016

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.