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ELECTORAL LAW
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United Kingdom lowers voting age to 16

The measure will enter into force before the general elections scheduled for 2029. It is the largest electoral reform since that age was reduced from 21 to 18 in 1969.

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Elections in the United Kingdom.

The British Government has announced that it will reduce the voting age from 18 to 16years beforethe general election 2029, which is the largest electoral reform since that age was reduced from 21 to 18 in 1969.

The Election Strategy presented by Keir Starmer's Government also provides for the automation of registration and the extension of authorized personal identification to voters, including bank cards issued in that country.

The plan also proposes tightening the rules on campaign financing to prevent foreign interests from intervening. Offenders face fines of up to £half a million (€580 billion).

In addition, sanctions will be added to those prosecuting political candidates, according to the document released.

With the announced age reduction, the government equals the entire country, which already applied in Scotland and Wales.

They have also fulfilled a promise contained in the electoral manifesto that they want to "modernize democracy" by increasing participation and "activate" a political system threatened by apathy.

In the United Kingdom (where there is no joint identity document), some 750,000 people were left without a vote in the elections on 4 July 2024 because, according to the Election Commission, they lacked adequate identification.

"In recent times, public confidence in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to cease," said Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

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