Petition · past parliament · Cabinet Office
Lower the voting age to 16 for all elections and referendums in England.
Closed
280 signatures
What the petition asks
At 16, you can: get married, work full time, play the lottery, join a trade union, pilot a glider, leave home and join the armed forces. So why not vote? 16/17 year olds are mature and responsible enough to make informed political decisions, and their opinions should be taken seriously and valued.
England wouldn't be the first country to make this change. Austria, Brazil and Argentina have already done this, with Scotland having lowered it for non Westminister elections. Wales will also be doing the same as Scotland in 2021. No one has seen any detrimental effects. Lowering the voting age would also make the result of any election more accurate, as it takes into consideration the opinions of a larger amount of the UK population. Young people have a voice, and it needs to be heard.
Timeline
| 11 Feb 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 11 Aug 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
280
Status
Closed
Department
Cabinet Office
Opened
11 Feb 2021
Closed
11 Aug 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.