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Welsh bill set to see 16- and 17-year-olds able to vote in local elections

1 min read Participation
The Welsh Assembly looks set to lower the voting age for local elections in Wales to 16 in the biggest shake-up to the country’s voting system in 50 years.
Presiding officer for the Welsh Assembly Elin Jones praised the bill. Image: Plaid Cymru
Presiding officer for the Welsh Assembly Elin Jones praised the bill. Image: Plaid Cymru

Proposals for the Local Government and Elections Bill (Wales) include allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local authority elections. The bill does not extend to general elections.

It is estimated that lowering the voting age to 16 would add around 75,000 people to Wales' electoral roll.

If passed, the bill would bring about the biggest changes in Wales’ electoral system since the voting age was lowered across the UK to 18 from 21 in 1969.

Elin Jones, presiding officer for the Welsh Assembly, said: “It is encouraging to see a clear majority of Assembly Members in favour of lowering the voting age to 16 at a time of such political significance.”

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