UK wants to lower voting age to 16
Listen to the story (American accent)
The United Kingdom’s government has announced a plan to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 for all national elections. If Parliament approves this change, the UK would become one of the first countries in Europe to do it.
The government says this important change will help protect its democracy for the future.
This change would match the rules in Scotland and Wales, where 16- and 17-year-olds can already vote in some elections. A government official said that young people "deserve to have a say" in their country's future.
This idea is part of a growing global trend. Austria lowered its voting age to 16 in 2008, and countries like Brazil and Argentina have had it for many years.
Supporters are happy with the change. Darren Hughes, from the Electoral Reform Society, said that voting at 16 helps young people form a good habit. He thinks that when more people vote, democracy becomes stronger. He says that young people can vote while they are also learning about government in school.
However, some people also criticize the plan. Some think it is a political move to help the current government's Labour Party, because young people will probably vote for them. The opposition Conservative Party do not like the idea. A Conservative politician asked why a 16-year-old could vote but is not allowed to do other adult activities, like buy alcohol or get married.
The new rules would also make it easier to vote by accepting more types of identification, such as digital IDs and UK bank cards.
Vocabulary28 words
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Announce
- share information openly; to tell the public; to make a statement; to report; to tell everyone
- Voting age
- the minimum age someone can legally vote; the youngest a person can be to vote
- National
- Relating to a whole country; belongs to or is about the whole country
- Election
- a process or event in which people vote to choose a leader or winner
- Parliament
- a special group of politicians who make laws for the country
- Approve
- officially agree; accept; to say “yes”; authorize
- Protect
- To keep something safe; to defend something
- Democracy
- A system of government where the people choose leaders by voting;
- Match
- to be equal to; to be even with; to be the same as
- Rule
- A guideline or regulation; sometimes a law; A guide that tells us what we should or shouldn’t do; something we have to do or can’t do
- Vote
- to give your opinion and make an official choice; a way of making a decision by asking a group of people
- Official
- a person who works for the government or a government company and has power or authority; officer; executive
- Deserve
- to be worthy of; to have earned something by good or bad actions or behavior
- Have a say
- to be able to share your opinion or help make a decision
- Grow
- To become bigger or increase in size; become; to get larger;
- Global
- related to the whole world; everywhere in the world; 🌍
- Trend
- something that’s popular or becoming popular
- Supporter
- Someone who likes and helps a person or idea; Someone who agrees with something
- Form a habit
- to start doing something regularly, so it becomes easy and natural
- Habit
- a usual way of behaving; something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way; a thing that you do often and almost without thinking
- Political
- Related to government or public affairs; related to politics and the workings of a country
- Move
- an action or a plan
- Current
- now; happening or being used or done now;
- Opposition
- a group of opponents, especially in sport, business, or politics; opponent; enemy; rival
- Allowed to
- having permission to do something
- Accept
- To agree to something; to say OK; to receive; to allow
- Digital
- using numbers and codes in a system or computer to make things happen; Using computers or technology to store or process information
Quiz
Answer key
1. Scotland and Wales 2. Digital IDs 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The United Kingdom’s _____ has announced a plan to lower the voting age from 18 to _____ for all national elections. If Parliament _____ this change, the UK would become one of the first _____ in Europe to do it.
The government _____ this important change will help protect its democracy for the _____ .
This change would match the _____ in Scotland and Wales, where 16- and _____ -year-olds can already vote in some elections. A government _____ said that young people "deserve to have a say" in their _____ future.
This idea is part of a _____ global trend. Austria lowered its voting age to 16 in _____ , and countries like Brazil and Argentina have _____ it for many years.
Supporters are _____ with the change. Darren Hughes, from the Electoral Reform Society, _____ that voting at 16 helps young people _____ a good habit. He thinks that when more people _____ , democracy becomes stronger. He says that _____ people can vote while they are also learning about _____ in school.
However, some people _____ criticize the plan. Some think it is a political _____ to help the current government's Labour Party, _____ young people will probably vote for them. The opposition Conservative _____ do not like the idea. A Conservative politician asked _____ a 16-year-old could vote but is not allowed to do other adult _____ , like buy alcohol or get married.
The new rules _____ also make it easier to vote by accepting more types of identification, _____ as digital IDs and UK bank cards.
Discussion questions
- Do you think 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote? Why or why not?
- What are some good things about letting younger people vote?
- What are some possible problems if 16-year-olds vote?
- What responsibilities do you think a person should have before they can vote?
- How important is it for young people to learn about government and voting in school?
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