GCSECitizenship StudiesAQARevision Notes4. Politics & Participation4.2 Government & ParticipationWho can and can not vote

Who can and can not vote (AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

Exam code: 8100

Michael Mitchell

Written by: Michael Mitchell

Reviewed by: Lisa Eades

Updated on

Who can and cannot vote in different elections

  • Voting rights in the UK depend on age, citizenship, residence and the type of election

    • Citizens in Scotland and Wales have greater voting rights in elections for devolved Parliament elections than in UK general elections

General requirements to vote in the UK

  • A person must be registered to vote

    • Registration must be completed before the official deadline

  • A person must be old enough on polling day

    • The voting age is 18 in most UK elections, but 16 in Scotland and Wales for devolved and local elections

  • A person must be registered at a local address.

    • This determines where their vote is counted

  • A person must not be legally excluded from voting

    • Some groups, such as prisoners serving a custodial sentence, cannot vote

Voting in different parts of the UK

  • In all parts of the UK, citizens are entitled to vote if

    • They are a British or Irish citizen

    • They have permission to remain in the UK, regardless of nationality

Part of the UK

Who can vote?

England and Northern Ireland

  • A voter can be a Commonwealth citizen with permission to stay in the UK

  • Citizens of certain EU countries can vote in local elections only

    • These include citizens of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain

Scotland

  • The voting age is 16 for Scottish Parliament and local elections

    • This makes Scotland more inclusive than the rest of the UK

Wales

  • The voting age is 16 for Senedd and local elections

    • This change was introduced to increase youth participation in democracy

Voting in UK General Elections

  • To vote in a general election, a person must be registered in a UK parliamentary constituency

  • A voter must not have a legal incapacity to vote

    • Prisoners serving a custodial sentence cannot vote

    • Members of the House of Lords cannot vote because they already take part in Parliament

Should the voting age be lowered?

  • The voting age for UK general elections is currently 18

  • However, 16- and 17-year-olds can already vote in:

    • Scottish Parliament elections

    • Senedd (Welsh Parliament) elections

    • Local elections in Scotland and Wales

  • This means the UK already has different voting ages depending on the type of election, which has increased debate about consistency

Government plans and future developments

  • The current UK government has proposed lowering the voting age to 16 for UK general elections

    • This change would require new legislation passed by Parliament

  • The next general election must take place by June 2029, and the government has indicated it aims to introduce the change before then

    • If implemented, the reform would add over one million new eligible voters, significantly expanding the electorate

Arguments for and against lowering the voting age

Arguments for

Arguments against

  • Lowering the voting age could increase political participation among young people

    • Voting at a younger age may help create lifelong voting habits

  • Many 16- and 17-year-olds already have adult responsibilities

    • They can work full time, pay taxes, join the armed forces with consent and make major life decisions

  • Evidence from Scotland suggests young voters can engage responsibly

    • Turnout among 16–17-year-olds in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was relatively high

  • Supporters argue the change would make democracy more inclusive and representative

    • Young people are directly affected by decisions on education, climate change and the economy

  • Critics argue that 16-year-olds may lack political knowledge or life experience

    • They claim maturity develops later and that young voters may be more easily influenced

  • Some argue that political education in schools is inconsistent, meaning not all young people would be equally informed

  • There is also a political argument against the change

    • Opponents claim younger voters are more likely to support left-leaning parties, suggesting the proposal could advantage the Labour Party

  • Others believe the priority should be increasing turnout among existing voters, rather than expanding the electorate

Public and political views

  • Public opinion on votes at 16 is divided, with support generally higher among younger people than older voters

  • Most left-leaning parties support lowering the voting age

    • The Conservative Party has traditionally opposed the change, arguing for keeping the age at 18

  • Several countries, including Austria, already allow voting at 16 in national elections, providing an example of international success

Unlock more, it's free!

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

    Previous:Fighting ElectionsNext:Why People do and do not vote
    Author
    Reviewer
    Michael Mitchell

    Author: Michael Mitchell

    Expertise: Content Writer

    Michael Mitchell is a pioneer of Citizenship education and a former Chief Examiner and Chief Moderator across all qualification levels. Michael's aim is to enable students to participate and become active citizens and not just passive members of society. He designed national specifications and, later, trained the next generation of teachers as the PGCE Subject Leader at the University of Plymouth, where he also ran a national Master's-level CPD program.

    Lisa Eades

    Reviewer: Lisa Eades

    Expertise: Business Content Creator

    Lisa has taught A Level, GCSE, BTEC and IBDP Business for over 20 years and is a senior Examiner for Edexcel. Lisa has been a successful Head of Department in Kent and has offered private Business tuition to students across the UK. Lisa loves to create imaginative and accessible resources which engage learners and build their passion for the subject.