The Representation of the People Bill moves democracy forward – but more progress is neededAt the Electoral Reform Society, we believe democracy is never a finished project. Something so hard won requires constant attention, updating and improvement if it is to remain healthy. That is particularly true at a...Posted 05 Mar 2026
Elections bill will bring in once-in-a-generation change to voting – but misses big opportunityToday sees the first reading of the Representation of the People Bill, the government’s landmark legislation reforming how elections work. This promises to make some fundamental reforms to the way we vote, as well as...Posted 12 Feb 2026
Why voting isn’t like drinking or smokingI’m pretty glad that 12-year-olds aren’t allowed to drive buses. We have age restrictions on many things for pretty good reasons in the UK, and preventing children from careering down the high street in a...Posted 19 Jan 2026
Strong support for fair votes and jubilant mood at Lib Dem ConferenceI have just returned from a very sunny weekend in Bournemouth at the annual Liberal Democrat conference. As is usually the case at the Liberal Democrats annual meeting, the mood was jubilant. With 72 MPs,...Posted 30 Sep 2025
Electoral Commission Chair calls for deeper citizenship educationAt the Electoral Reform Society we have long called for the right to vote to be extended to 16 and 17 year olds. Far too many people don’t vote, and research has shown that 16...Posted 26 Aug 2025
We called, they listened: Government confirms historic democratic reformsIn a statement to parliament today, the democracy minister set out the changes the government plans to make in the forthcoming elections bill. Last week we set out what we hoped to see in the...Posted 17 Jul 2025
The government are introducing a new bill to reform elections – here’s what we want to seeOne year on from the General Election and we are eagerly awaiting the government’s Elections Bill, expected to be tabled in the next session of this parliament. The bill is likely to contain measures, promised...Posted 03 Jul 2025
We should extend the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds, here’s whyThe Government was elected on a manifesto promise to “increase the engagement of young people in our vibrant democracy by giving 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all elections.” We agree, and here’s...Posted 02 Apr 2025
When was the voting age reduced from 21 to 18 in the UK?The UK is no stranger to expanding the franchise. The age you have to be to cast a vote in elections has changed many times – each time allowing even more people to participate in...Posted 27 Nov 2024
The real winner from votes at 16 is democracyWith our Labour government’s commitment to extending the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds in their manifesto, many an argument has been levelled against the plan. Most arguments against measures that would improve our democracy are...Posted 27 Aug 2024