Why Lowering the Voting Age to 16 Must Come with Support and Education
The news that the UK is lowering the voting age to 16 is both a milestone and a mirror. It reflects how far we’ve come in recognising young people’s voices, but also how much more we must do to support them in using those voices effectively.
From a developmental perspective, adolescence is a time of significant growth. At 16, most young people are beginning to master abstract thinking, understand different points of view, and grasp cause-and-effect relationships —key components of effective decision-making. Their brains are still developing, especially in the prefrontal cortex, which governs judgement and impulse control. But by the mid-teens, the foundation for civic engagement is already in place, especially if nurtured through education and real-life experiences.
Yet cognitive capacity alone isn’t enough. Confidence, emotional resilience, and a sense of agency also matter. For years, we’ve limited young people’s independence, from banning unsupervised play to focusing school life around standardised testing. It’s no wonder some teenagers don’t feel ready to make civic choices when much of their autonomy has been restricted.
And yet, when trusted, young people rise to the occasion. Initiatives in youth social action, student governance, and volunteering consistently show teenagers to be thoughtful, engaged, and responsible. But they need meaningful opportunities, alongside the support to navigate them.
Education plays a pivotal role here. If we’re going to take this new voting right seriously, we must ensure all young people are prepared to participate in democracy. That means going beyond a single PSHE lesson on elections. We need civic education that helps students understand government, the power of their voice, and the importance of respectful debate. Programmes like First News Education do a great job of engaging young people with current affairs and critical thinking.
With rights come responsibilities. Entrusting 16- and 17-year-olds with the vote requires clarity on their legal responsibilities, too. It raises important questions around jury service, military enlistment, and contracts—areas where expectations may now need to evolve.
Lowering the voting age shouldn’t just be a political gesture. It should prompt a national rethink of how we educate, support, and empower young people. If done well, this change can produce not just more voters, but more informed, confident citizens ready to shape the world they live in.