2.3 Meet the voters

Who can vote in the UK can be confusing at first. It’s best to approach on a case by case basis. Here’s a few illustrated examples of how eligibility to vote varies by, nation, type of election, age and nationality in the UK.

Amira, 17 – Cardiff, Wales

Amira’s 17 and lives in Cardiff. Amira was born in Pakistan and has Pakistani citizenship. Amira’s already voted once in the local council elections, and is planning to vote in the next Senedd election too. In Wales, everyone aged 16 and over who lives here legally, no matter where they’re from, can vote in local and devolved elections. Because Pakistan is in the Commonwealth, Amira will also be able vote in UK Parliamentary elections, but she’ll have to wait until she’s 18 for that.

If Amira came from a country outside of the commonwealth, she’d still be able to vote in local council elections and Senedd elections, but not in UK parliamentary elections.

Euan, 15 – Glasgow, Scotland

Euan’s 15 and just registered to vote for the first time. In Scotland and Wales, you can go on the register from age 14. When he turns 16 next summer, he’ll be able to vote in both local council and Scottish Parliament elections. He’s already talking with his friends about what issues matter to them most. He’ll have to wait until he’s 18 to vote in a UK Parliamentary election.

His friend Elijah has recently moved from the USA to Scotland and has leave to remain in the UK. When Elijah turns 16 he’ll be able to vote in Scottish local and Scottish Parliamentary elections. Because he is a US citizen, Elijah won’t be able to vote in UK Parliamentary elections, no matter what age he is.

Harry, 19 – Manchester, England

Harry’s 19 and voted for the first time last year in her local council elections. In England, you have to be 18 to vote in any election, and the rules are tighter about who can vote. His friend Sofia, who’s from Spain, can also vote locally, because Spain is one of a few EU countries with voting agreements, but his flatmate Léa from France can’t vote at all. Only EU residents from Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain can vote in local elections in England, since the UK has bilateral voting treaties with these countries.

Aoife, 18 – Belfast, Northern Ireland

Aoife has just turned 18 and voted for the first time in her local council elections. In Northern Ireland, you must be 18 to vote in any election – local, Assembly or UK Parliament. Because she’s a British citizen, Aoife can vote in all of them, including UK general elections.

Her neighbour, Maria, is from Italy and has lived in Belfast for four years. Maria is in her 20s. As an EU citizen, Maria can vote in local and Assembly elections in Northern Ireland, but not in UK Parliament elections.

At the moment, you need to be 18 to vote in a UK Parliament (general) election, wherever you live – but this could change soon if the government follows through on plans to lower the voting age to 16.