Should 16- and 17-year-olds be allowed to vote in elections?
I can explain arguments for and against allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections and formulate my own opinion on the issue.
Should 16- and 17-year-olds be allowed to vote in elections?
I can explain arguments for and against allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections and formulate my own opinion on the issue.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- You can vote in elections if you meet the eligibility criteria including age, citizenship, and residency.
- You cannot vote in a general election until you are 18.
- There are certain things you can do at 16, for example, apply for a passport or open a bank account.
- There are other things you have to be 18 to do, for example, get a tattoo or get married.
- The discussion on lowering the voting age to 16 is complex and can be divisive with strong arguments on both sides.
Keywords
Vote - a formal way of making a choice or decision
Election - the voting process to select a person for a public position
General election - when the citizens of a country (the electorate) vote to elect a new government; a general election in the UK happens at least every five years
Common misconception
Currently no 16- and 17-year-olds have the right to vote in elections in the UK.
In Scotland and Wales, you can vote from the age of 16 in Parliament and assembly elections.
To help you plan your year 8 citizenship lesson on: Should 16- and 17-year-olds be allowed to vote in elections?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 citizenship lesson on: Should 16- and 17-year-olds be allowed to vote in elections?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the Why was the struggle for the vote important today? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
local councillors
Members of Parliament to sit in the House of Commons
Members of the Scottish, Welsh, or Northern Irish Parliament
Exit quiz
6 Questions
Wales
Scotland
England
Northern Ireland