Lowering the Voting Age to Strengthen Democratic Resilience

In this webinar Dr Andrew Mycock (Political Scientist at University of Leeds) will provide an overview of his research and the policy pathway to ‘Votes at 16’ . He will explore the contemporary political and policy debates, and analysis of international case studies where it has been introduced. The webinar will also consider the significant opportunities to embed voting age reform within a strategic research-to-policy framework that both supports lifelong civic participation and strengthens democratic resilience.

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The announcement that the UK Government will universally lower the voting age across the UK to 16 during the current parliament brought to a successful conclusion a 20-year campaign led by youth and electoral reform organisations, some political parties, and young people from across the UK. Universal ‘Votes at 16’ will address current asymmetries in youth electoral rights in different parts of the UK. There remains, however, strong political and public opposition (including from many young people) to voting age reform, and significant policy challenges in its implementation.

This webinar will provide an overview of Andy's research into the policy pathway to ‘Votes at 16’ and explore contemporary political and policy debates, and analysis of international case studies where it has beenintroduced. It will consider the challenges for the UK Government in implementing a measure which has cross-departmental and multi-level governmental dimensions and implications. The views of young people themselves, and their role in the introduction will also be discussed. The webinar will conclude by outlining the significant opportunities to embed voting age reform within a strategic research-to-policy framework that both supports lifelong civic participation and strengthens democratic resilience.