Voting Age (Comprehensive Reduction) Bill [HL]

Key Points

• Aims to extend the franchise to citizens over 16 for parliamentary elections, other elections, and referendums (i.e., 17-year-olds and older).
• Originating in the Lords, the bill is currently at the 2nd reading in the Lords.
• Official documents published with the bill include an Amendment Paper and the Bill itself.
• If passed, the change would require adjustments to UK electoral law and administration to accommodate a larger electorate.
• The intended effect is to broaden participation in elections by bringing younger citizens into the voters’ roll.

Progress

The bill has completed its first reading in the Lords and is at the 2nd reading stage in the Lords (as of 2013-10-25); further stages in both Houses would be needed for it to become law.