Lowering the voting age is only part of the solution. We must also prepare young people to participate in democracy with confidence and understanding.
At Social, we work across vital sectors such as infrastructure, housing, and transport to deliver meaningful public consultations that give communities a genuine voice in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. But true engagement shouldn’t begin in adulthood. If we’re serious about building an inclusive democracy, we must ensure that future generations are not only enfranchised but also informed, confident, and ready to take part.
The idea of lowering the voting age to sixteen is often met with criticism and scepticism. Some argue that they are not yet ready to make informed choices at the ballot box. Others point out that at 16, young people can already take on many adult responsibilities: from starting work to paying taxes, joining the military, or consenting to medical treatment. In this context, the vote seems like a logical next step.
But regardless of where a person stands on the voting age itself, one thing is clear: any move to expand the electorate must be matched by a clear plan to make sure that all new voters, particularly younger ones, understand how the system works, and how they can take part in it.
A strong democracy does not just give people the right to vote; it helps them to use that right well. And that education, naturally, needs to start in schools.
Civic education is not currently given the same attention in schools as other core subjects. General studies, where it exists, varies widely in quality and coverage. As a result, many young people leave school without a clear understanding of how decisions are made in Westminster, how to evaluate and validate information critically, and how to engage with issues that could potentially affect them.
This matters for more than just one age group. Voter turnout is often lowest among young people, but it is also declining in other age brackets. Trust in institutions has weakened across the board, with the most recent Electoral Commission Public Attitudes report finding that only 14% of the public now say they ‘trust politicians’ and 54% believe those elected do not care about people like them.1
If we want to renew democratic participation across society, we need to invest in the basics, starting with education.
Countries that have introduced votes at 16, such as Austria and Scotland (for devolved elections), offer useful real-life precedent. When given the opportunity and proper support, 16- and 17-year-olds have shown that they can and do take the responsibility of voting seriously. In fact, studies suggest that voting at a younger age can help individuals form lifelong habits of democratic participation. 234
Education is the key to it all. If young people are expected to vote, they should also be given the tools to understand policies, debate ideas, and think critically. That means embedding civic education in the curriculum, not to promote any one viewpoint, but to help students form their own opinions and thoughts.
This does not mean fostering division by turning classrooms into spaces for political argument. Far from it. It means giving students a clear, impartial understanding of how our democratic process works: how laws are made, what local councils do, how elections function, the role of their MP, and why civic engagement matters.
Young people are already exposed to politics, often through social media and online content, where information can be misleading, biased, or deliberately polarised for politically motivated reasons. In fact, recent data from Channel 4 shows that young people are more likely to trust social media posts than they are news sources such as the BBC.5
Schools have that unique opportunity to provide a balanced and nuanced space where students can ask questions, develop critical thinking skills, and engage in respectful debate with one another.
But it’s not just about schools.
If we are to build a democracy that truly reflects and serves all of society, public bodies, employers, and developers must also step up. Local, regional, and national governments need to engage young people more directly in shaping policy. But they need to do it on their terms. This means targeted, meaningful engagement that listens to and values young voices. Some combined authorities are already leading the way by setting up Youth Combined Authorities and advisory panels that sit alongside more traditional governance structures, ensuring young people have a seat at the table, but there’s still a long way to go.6
The same principle must apply to placemaking and regeneration. Developers and employers should recognise the long-term value of involving young people in shaping the future of their communities and workplaces. After all, it’s their future we are building.
Too often, public consultation is dominated by older, white, middle-class voices who may not reflect the experiences or aspirations of younger generations. If consultations are to be inclusive, they must be designed with young people and other underrepresented groups in mind. This is not just a tick-box exercise, it’s a vital step in creating places and policies that work for everyone and will help to positively build the UK’s economic and social resilience for generations to come.
Introducing votes at 16 will play a valuable role in modernising democracy. But on its own, it is not enough. Without education and preparation, we risk creating a form of inclusion that lacks any real substance. Even worse, there is a risk of fostering wider disengagement rather than building participation levels.
If we want the next generation to take democracy seriously, we must treat them as capable and valued members of society. That means preparing them, through education, meaningful engagement, and empowerment, to embrace their rights and responsibilities. It means building a political culture that is open, informed, and accessible to all, regardless of age.
By Sami Garratt, Account Manager
References
1 Public attitudes 2025 | Electoral Commission
2 The surprising consequence of lowering the voting age – The Washington Post
3 Lowering the Voting Age to 16 Can Permanently Boost Voter Turnout
5 Macro Themes – Impacting Gen Z
6 Youth Combined Authority – Greater Manchester Combined Authority
