What does the pledge mean? 

The manifesto doesn’t specify exactly what it means by “all elections”. We’ve taken it to mean that Labour intends for 16 and 17-year-olds across the UK to be able to vote in UK general elections, as well as those for local government (such as council, Police and Crime Commissioner and mayoral elections) and the devolved parliaments (for those living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Voting in UK general elections is a reserved matter, meaning rules are decided by the UK Parliament. The current voting age for UK general elections (in which Members of Parliament are elected) is 18, no matter where you live.

In England and Northern Ireland (where elections are an excepted matter), people currently also have to be 18 to vote in local elections (and in the case of Northern Ireland, Assembly elections).

Decisions on voting eligibility for some elections in Scotland and Wales are devolved, meaning they are the responsibility of the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

• In Scotland, the voting age (provided people meet other criteria) is 16 for local government elections and for elections for the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood. This has been the case since 2016, though most 16 and 17-year-olds were also allowed to vote in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence.
• In Wales, the voting age has been 16 for Senedd elections since 2021 and for local elections since 2022 (again, provided people meet other eligibility criteria). Welsh electors must currently be 18 to vote in Police and Crime Commissioner elections. 

The manifesto did not mention a timeframe for this pledge. When we asked the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) about this in October 2024, it told us it “will ensure the voting age is lowered in good time ahead of the next general election”. 

Some local elections will be held in England in 2025, and the next general election must take place no later than August 2029, but parliamentary by-elections could take place before then, for example if an MP dies or resigns. 

What progress has been made?

When we asked what action has been taken on this pledge so far, the MHCLG told us in October 2024 that “work is already underway”, but wasn’t able to provide additional information. 

We don’t know when legislation to change the rules will be introduced, however. There was no reference to a bill that would make it possible in the first King’s Speech of the Labour government, and no relevant bill has been introduced in Parliament. 

The MHCLG also told us: “The government is committed to lowering the voting age to 16 for all UK elections. We will take the time necessary to successfully implement this significant reform.”

On 31 October 2024, government minister Baroness Twycross told the House of Lords the government will “legislate to lower the voting age to 16 for all UK elections when parliamentary time allows”. 

On 13 November 2024, homelessness and democracy minister Rushanara Ali said the government was “considering” if voter ID rules are more difficult for 16 and 17-year-olds, as “part of our work towards expanding the franchise”. 

Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, suggested on 6 February 2025 that votes at 16 could be included in an elections bill in the next session of Parliament.