The United Kingdom Government It will reduce age to vote for the first time from 18 to 16 years. This measure will be effective Before the general elections of 2029 And it is considered as the greatest electoral reform since the age was reduced from 21 to 18 years in 1969. With this modification, the Executive equals the entire country, since the young people of Wales and Scotland already vote with this age.
The package of measures presented by the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, also includes the automation of the census registration and the expansion of the type of personal identification Allowed to voters, who will even include bank cards cast in the country.
Also, in order to protect themselves from the interference of foreign countries, Control on campaigning financing will be more strict and in the case of breaching it, the party can be sanctioned with up to half a million pounds (580,000 million euros). Likewise, I know Penalties will increase For those who try to intimidate candidates.
Voting age reduction meets one of the promises included in the Starmer’s electoral manifesto, with which he wants “Modernize democracy”increase participation and “activate” a political system threatened by apathy.
According to data from the Electoral Commission, near 750,000 people did not vote in the elections of July 4, 2024 because they did not have the required identification. In fact, it is that the United Kingdom does not have a unified card, as is the case of the ID in Spain.
“In recent times, Public trust in our democracy has been damaged And the faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline, “said the Vice Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, while expressing that” we are taking measures to tear down the barriers to participation. “
