This was a amendment on the Representation of the People Bill. The Representation of the People Bill would extend voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds, reform how voters are registered, tighten the administration and financing of elections and referendums, and add new rules on political advertising, online information and safeguarding candidates and election staff. It also aims to curb misinformation, increase transparency around donations and spending, and extend disqualification rules for those involved in elections when there is hostility toward election workers.
•Extends the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds, with related questions about how far variations in eligibility could go (including potential custody-vote issues debated in amendments).
•Aims to modernise voter registration (including pilots for automatic/assisted registration) and tighten verification and data-use rules around who can register; some amendments seek to restrict pilot changes to the franchise.
•Tightens political donations and spending rules (including proposals on cryptoassets, foreign donors, and donor transparency) and creates new policing and sanctions around electoral offences; includes calls for a public archive of political advertising and requirements around AI-generated campaigning content.
•Strengthens information and media literacy measures, with proposals to bolster the Electoral Commission and increase independence, while addressing online abuse and misinformation in elections.
MPs voted 105 Aye to 410 No on a Reasoned Amendment to the Representation of the People Bill. The amendment would add a clause to extend the parliamentary franchise to convicted persons detained in prison for up to four years who would otherwise be eligible, and included related provisions on Commonwealth voting rights and overseas electors. One MP voted against their party whip in this division.
Prisoner voting rights expansion proposedAmendment defeated 105–410One MP voted against their party whip
AI-generated context — may contain errors.
Turnout by party
79%
Traditional Unionist Voice
1/1 (100%)
Your Party
1/1 (100%)
Conservative
95/114 (83%)
Labour (Co-op)
328/401 (82%)
Green Party
4/5 (80%)
Liberal Democrat
57/72 (79%)
Scottish National Party
7/9 (78%)
Reform UK
6/8 (75%)
What happens next?
The bill continues through its current stage with the amendment applied (or rejected).
