Sixteen year olds will be able to vote in the next general election under dramatic changes to the UK’s election system announced by Angela Rayner today. Youngsters aged 16 and 17 will get the right to vote, cutting the age limit down from 18. Critics will accuse Labour of trying to rig the next election, because young people are thought to be likely to vote for left-wing parties. But Labour argues that 16 and 17-year-olds contribute to society by working, paying taxes and serving in the military and should have the right to vote.

The Government is also introducing tougher punishments for people who abuse politicians and election candidates, following concerns about the level of harassment during the last general election, when some Labour MPs were targeted by campaigners opposed to the war in Gaza. And there will be automatic voter registration, so that people no longer need to fill in an electoral registration form to be able to vote.

Ms Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, said: “For too long public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline.

“We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change, and delivering on our manifesto commitment to give sixteen year olds the right to vote.

“We cannot take our democracy for granted, and by protecting our elections from abuse and boosting participation we will strengthen the foundations of our society for the future.”

The Government has rejected calls to entirely scrap restrictions introduced by the Conservatives that required people to show ID in order to be able to vote. But the rules will be loosened so that bank cards count as a form of ID, while under the current arrangements only certain types of photo ID were accepted.

An increasingly automated voter registration system will also make it easier for people to register to vote and reduce the need to fill out their details across different government services on multiple occasions.

The Government also says it will crack down on funding for political parties by scrapping a loopholes allowing foreign donors to influence UK politics by breaking the rules and providing funding via “shell companies”. In addition, new requirements on unincorporated associations will mandate checks on donations over £500 to tackle foreign interference and protect UK democracy from those who attempt to undermine it.

Alongside this, the reforms will allow the Electoral Commission to take action and enforce heavier fines of up to £500,000 on those who breach political finance rules, and enable tougher sentences for those who abuse election campaigners.

Rushanara Ali, the Minister for Democracy, saidL: “We are modernising our democracy, so that it is fit for the 21st century. By delivering our manifesto commitment to extend the vote to 16 and 17 year olds, we are taking a generational step forward in restoring public trust and boosting engagement in UK democracy, supporting our Plan for Change.

“By reinforcing safeguards against foreign interference, we will strengthen our democratic institutions and protect them for future generations.”

Recent Electoral Commission research showed 55% of candidates at the 2024 General Election experienced abuse, with women and candidates from ethnic minorities most likely to be affected.

Reforms announced today will crack down on these unacceptable practices, delivering tougher sentences for those who intimidate campaigners and stronger protections for candidates in public life by removing the requirement for their home address to be published and openly available.

The changes will be included in an Elections Bill which Parliament will debate.