Should 16- and 17-year-olds be allowed to vote in elections?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
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.
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 Senedd, Scottish Parliament, and local elections.
Teacher tip
Encourage critical thinking by asking pupils to debate the pros and cons of lowering the voting age. Divide the class into groups, assigning each group a different perspective (e.g., supporters, opponents, and those who are undecided).
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was the main aim of the Suffragists and Suffragettes?
Q2.Which of the following best describes the members of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS)?
Q3.Which of the following was a result of the groups campaigning for women's suffrage?
Q4.Which of the following primarily makes political decisions in the UK: the Prime Minister and Cabinet, or the monarch?
Q5.Match the type of election to who is being elected.
Q6.Why is voting an important way to take part in politics?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the correct term for the following definition: a formal way of making a choice or decision?
Q2.What are the criteria you have to meet in order to be eligible to vote in an election in the UK?
Q3.At what age can you register to vote for elections in England and Northern Ireland?
Q4.Which of the following can you legally do at 16?
Q5.What is the age in which you can vote in local elections in England?
Q6.Which of the following are arguments for giving 16-year-olds the vote?
To help you plan your 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 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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.