Why did UK lower its voting age to 16? Here are countries where under-18 teens can vote
It was Brazil that lowered the voting age to 16 in 1988 for the Presidential elections. Now several other countries have joined the list
By The Week News Desk Updated: July 17, 2025 21:24 IST
The United Kingdom is set to lower voting age from 18 to 16 from the next national election onwards. The reason for this drastic change in the country's electoral system is to increase democratic participation, according to the government.
In the run up to the July 2024 elections, the centre-left Labour party promised in its poll campaign that it will lower the voting age for elections to the British Parliament. In Scotland and Wales, those aged 16 can already vote in the local and regional elections.
Countries where legal voting age is 16
It was Brazil which lowered the voting age to 16 in 1988 for the Presidential elections. Germany's Lower Saxony state made a similar move in 1995, with more states following suit. In 2024, Germany lowered its voting age to 16 for the European Parliament elections.
Austria allowed 16-year-olds to vote in the national elections in 2007 and the European Parliament election in 2009.
In Malta, those aged 16 were allowed to vote in the local elections from 2015 and in the national elections from 2018.
Belgium has allowed 16-year-olds to vote in the European elections since 2023 while only those aged 18 can vote in the national elections. In Greece, the voting age is 17 since July 2016.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, citizens aged 16 can vote if they are employed. In Hungary, interestingly, a 16-year-old can vote if they are married.
In Indonesia, there is no threshold for married citizens while for others it is 17. Police and military are not allowed to vote.
In North Korea, any members of the military can vote regardless of their age while for others it is 17.
Latin American countries like Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Nicaragua have the legal age to vote is 16.
Terb opinions?
Btw imho 18 is as low as Canada should go...
It was Brazil that lowered the voting age to 16 in 1988 for the Presidential elections. Now several other countries have joined the list
By The Week News Desk Updated: July 17, 2025 21:24 ISTThe United Kingdom is set to lower voting age from 18 to 16 from the next national election onwards. The reason for this drastic change in the country's electoral system is to increase democratic participation, according to the government.
In the run up to the July 2024 elections, the centre-left Labour party promised in its poll campaign that it will lower the voting age for elections to the British Parliament. In Scotland and Wales, those aged 16 can already vote in the local and regional elections.
Countries where legal voting age is 16
It was Brazil which lowered the voting age to 16 in 1988 for the Presidential elections. Germany's Lower Saxony state made a similar move in 1995, with more states following suit. In 2024, Germany lowered its voting age to 16 for the European Parliament elections.
Austria allowed 16-year-olds to vote in the national elections in 2007 and the European Parliament election in 2009.
In Malta, those aged 16 were allowed to vote in the local elections from 2015 and in the national elections from 2018.
Belgium has allowed 16-year-olds to vote in the European elections since 2023 while only those aged 18 can vote in the national elections. In Greece, the voting age is 17 since July 2016.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, citizens aged 16 can vote if they are employed. In Hungary, interestingly, a 16-year-old can vote if they are married.
In Indonesia, there is no threshold for married citizens while for others it is 17. Police and military are not allowed to vote.
In North Korea, any members of the military can vote regardless of their age while for others it is 17.
Latin American countries like Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Nicaragua have the legal age to vote is 16.
Terb opinions?
Btw imho 18 is as low as Canada should go...
