The British government Thursday said it plans to lower the voting age to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the next general election.

The changes are part of a series of plans to modernize democracy, according to a statement by the UK Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The proposed changes, which are subject to parliament approvals, would align voting rights across the UK with Scotland and Wales.

What else do we know about proposed changes to UK democratic system?

The changes are part of a package of reforms which aim to help people to participate in elections easily.

"We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy," Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said in a statement. 

What counts as voter ID, for example, is going to be expanded to include UK-issued bank and veterans' cards to help more people vote.

The reforms also include tougher new rules to guard against political interference and abuse of campaigners.

Why is the UK lowering voting age?

The Labour Party won a landslide victory in the UK general election in 2024 after the collapse of the Conservative Party.

Labour promised to lower the voting age if elected. Turnout in last year's general election was 59.7%, the lowest a general election since 2001.

A YouGov study of 35,000 voters who cast ballots in general election last year said age was a key dividing line, as has been the case in the last few elections in the UK.

Young voters are more likely to vote Labour and older voters more likely to vote for the Conservatives, according to the study.

The YouGov study found that 41% of 18 to 24-year-olds voted Labour, compared with 34% of 50 to 59-year-olds. 

What does lowering vote age achieve?

Labor's popularity has fallen sharply and only a quarter of British adults said they think Prime Minister Keir Starmer would win the next election, according to arecent poll.

According to the House of Commons library, research from countries that have lowered the voting age to 16 shows it has had no impact on election outcomes.

The research also showed that 16-year-olds were more likely to vote than those first eligible at 18.

Edited by: Kieran Burke