Northern Ireland’s First Minister welcomes intention to lower voting age to 16

Northern Ireland’s First Minister has welcomed an announcement by the UK Government that it intends to lower the voting age to 16.

Ministers are to bring forward a Bill before 2029 which will include extending the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, and work to create a system of automated voter registration.

Teenagers aged 16 or over can already vote in Holyrood, Senedd and local government elections in Wales and Scotland, but not in UK parliamentary elections.

It is not known yet whether the legislation will be in place before the next election to the Northern Ireland Assembly and the local government elections in the region set to take place in 2027.

Michelle O’Neill described a “step forward for democracy”.

“I’ll now be contacting the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, urging him to ensure that the right to vote at 16 applies to the 2027 Assembly and Council elections in the north,” she said in a post on the social media network X.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said voting rights should be changed at all levels.

“Enfranchising 16 and 17-year-olds has been a long held SDLP position and we welcome confirmation from the Government today that this will be in place for the next general election,” she said.

“There are many young people in Northern Ireland actively engaged in politics and I know that for generations there has been frustration that they could not play a full role in the democratic process.

“The SDLP believes that these voting rights must stretch beyond general elections and be extended to voting for the Assembly and local councils.

“We will continue to make the case for that at Westminster and push for change to secure voting at all levels for 16 and 17-year-olds.”

There was also a call to ensure the legislation is in place by 2027 from the Alliance Party.

North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland said: “We have long-argued that the disenfranchisement of our society’s young people is a major democratic deficit here in Northern Ireland.

“However, time is of the essence and we need urgent clarification that it will be a priority to see this implemented in time for the next NI Assembly election in 2027. We cannot afford any further delay.”

Derry Sinn Féin Councillor Sandra Duffy  has welcomed the news that the British government is to extend the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds.

“Empowering young people with the vote encourages a lifetime of political engagement,” said Sandra Duffy 

“This is a welcome step forward in strengthening democracy.

“With two elections scheduled in the north in 2027, the focus now must be on ensuring 16 and 17-year-olds can take part.

“It would be a disservice to democracy if this legislation is not in place by then, and it would send entirely the wrong message to future voters.

“Sinn Féin will be pressing the British government to ensure young people can vote in the 2027 Assembly and Council elections.”