UK Government to Lower Voting Age to 16

The UK government has announced plans to lower the national voting age to 16, a move described as a significant expansion of suffrage. This change, which requires parliamentary approval, follows similar provisions already in place for Scottish and Welsh elections. The government frames the decision as a way to renew democracy and address declining public trust in institutions. The plan also includes measures to regulate foreign political donations and streamline voter registration. Several European countries, including Austria and Malta, already allow 16-year-olds to vote, while others, like Greece, set the age at 17.