“I strongly support lowering the voting age to 16 in Northern Ireland. Our young people are already engaged in shaping society – they contribute to the economy, volunteer in their communities, and advocate for change on issues that affect them. It is only right that they are given a say in electing the representatives who make decisions on their behalf.
For over a decade, I have engaged with various Secretaries of State, MLAs, and other decision makers on this issue. Politics in Action, the NI Youth Forum, and civil society groups continue to advocate for this change. Young people across NI have consistently expressed their desire to vote.
The NI Assembly has now voted twice in favour of lowering the voting age, most recently in September 2024. This reflects growing political recognition that 16 and 17-year-olds deserve the right to vote. However, electoral policy is ultimately decided by the UK Government. While Westminster has the power to make this change, young people in NI continue to be denied a right that their peers elsewhere in the UK already have.
Scotland led the way by lowering the voting age for the 2014 independence referendum, before granting 16 and 17-year-olds full voting rights in Scottish Parliament and local elections. In 2020, Wales followed suit, giving young people the right to vote in Senedd and local elections. The Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey have also enfranchised 16-year-olds, recognising the importance of youth participation in democracy.
Beyond the UK, many countries – including Austria, Argentina, Brazil, and Malta – have already extended voting rights to 16-year-olds. Research from Austria shows that young voters participate at rates similar to older groups and often establish lifelong voting habits.
The UK Government must act now to lower the voting age in NI. Young people have the right to be heard, and their votes should count. It is time to make votes at 16 a reality in NI.
I am chairing an event on this subject tomorrow at the James Connolly Visitor Centre, where a panel of young people will be giving their views on the subject. I look forward to a thought-provoking discussion about young people’s political participation, youth empowerment, and the potential to reshape democratic engagement.”
