House of Lords backs lowering the EU referendum voting age to 16

During the Report Stage of the European Union Referendum Bill 2015, the United Kingdom's House of Lords, the upper house of the parliament, backed on 18 November 2015 lowering the voting age to 16 in the planned referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union. Peers backed the decision by 293 against 211.

Some reports suggest the change might delay the timing of the referendum, while others say it was good news for those calling for the UK to remain in the EU, considering indicators which show young people as more EU-friendly.

However, Members of Parliament in the lower House of Commons rejected this suggestion on the 8 December 2015.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

EUObserver, 19.11.15: Lords back vote for 16 and 17-year olds in UK referendum https://euobserver.com/political/131176

UK: House of Lords: News: European Union Referendum Bill http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2015/october/lords-eu-referendum-bill/

The Guardian, 18.11.15: Cameron faces EU referendum delay after Lords vote on teenager participation http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/18/lords-back-eu-referendum-vote-for-16--and-17-year-olds

The Independent, 18.11.15: EU referendum: House of Lords vote in favour of allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to take part http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-referendum-house-of-lords-vote-in-favour-of-allowing-16-and-17-year-olds-to-take-part-a6739716.html

BBC News, 18.11.15: Peers vote to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to take part in EU referendum http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34860150

BBC News, 17.11.15: Why the timing of the EU referendum may depend on who can vote http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34847423

Sputnik International, 19.11.15: House of Lords Back Teenager Participation in Referendum on EU Membership http://sptnkne.ws/aeYz

ESO: Background information: European Union Referendum Bill 2015-16 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-union-referendum-bill-2015-16/

Blog: Open Europe, 19.11.15: Will question of votes at 16 scupper prospects of a snap EU referendum? http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/will-question-of-votes-at-16-scupper-prospects-of-a-snap-eu-referendum/

Blog: UK in a Changing EU, 18.11.15: Votes at 16: What effect would it have? http://ukandeu.ac.uk/votes-at-16-what-effect-would-it-have/

LSE European Institute: EuroppBlog, 10.12.14: Expert voices: Should 16 year olds be allowed to vote? http://www.europeansources.info/record/expert-voices-should-16-year-olds-be-allowed-to-vote/

The Guardian, 19.11.15: [Editorial]: The Guardian view on votes at 16: give youth a voice in the EU poll http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/19/the-guardian-view-on-votes-at-16-give-youth-a-voice-in-the-eu-poll

Politico, 08.12.15: MPs reject plan to lower EU referendum voting age http://www.politico.eu/article/mps-reject-plan-to-lower-eu-referendum-voting-age-referendum-brexit/

UK: Parliament: Parliamentary Business: News, 08.12.15: MPs consider Lords amendments to European Union Referendum Bill http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2015/december/mps-consider-lords-amendments-to-european-union-referendum-bill/

Politico, 15.12.15: Cameron wants a referendum soon — and without kids http://www.politico.eu/article/cameron-wants-a-referendum-soon-membership-eu-brexit-without-kids/

BBC News, 14.12.15: EU referendum: Lords defeat Labour bid for votes at 16 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35089543

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 02.02.18: Beyond anecdotes on lowering the voting age: New evidence from Scotland http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2018/01/02/beyond-anecdotes-on-lowering-the-voting-age-new-evidence-from-scotland/

---