#BBCNews Sixteen and 17-year-olds would be able to vote at the next UK general election, under government plans to lower the voting age.
The pledge is part of a raft of measures being introduced through a new Elections Bill.
Other changes include expanding forms of voter ID to include UK-issued bank cards, moving towards automatic voter registration and tightening rules on political donations to protect against foreign interference.
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00:00The Pledge Government is lowering the voting age here in the UK.
00:03It will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the next general election for the first time.
00:08The current age is 18.
00:10The Labour Party made the promise in its manifesto last year.
00:1316-year-olds are already allowed to vote in elections for the devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales.
00:20The pledge is part of a new elections bill which will also expand voter ID options and move towards automatic registration.
00:27The government says the move will ensure that UK's democracy is fit for the 21st century.
00:34Our political correspondent Jack Fenwick has more.
00:37How old should you have to be to be able to vote in a general election?
00:42Last year, Labour pledged to lower the age for all UK elections to 16.
00:46That had already happened for some votes in Scotland and Wales.
00:49And today, ministers have said they hope the change will be in place by the time of the next general election, expected in four years.
00:56This is a seismic change in terms of how our democracy works and giving young people a say in the future of our politics and our country.
01:07But it's not without controversy.
01:09The Liberal Democrats have long been in favour of the move.
01:11But reforms say you shouldn't be able to vote if you're not old enough to be a candidate.
01:15And the Conservatives aren't happy either.
01:17Why does this government think a 16-year-old can vote but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket, an alcoholic drink, marry or go to war or even stand in the elections they're voting in?
01:28Isn't the government's position on the age of majority just hopelessly confused?
01:32So what do those affected think of the idea?
01:35Even when you go to school, young people are so politically engaged.
01:37But I feel like many young people don't know what to do or they feel sometimes shunned a bit from democracy and decision making.
01:45It's really important this is done in the right way, that education is brought in to make sure that young people feel interested in voting.
01:54It's amazing. It's something that a lot of young people have wanted for a long time.
01:58The change is part of a package of announcements about elections.
02:01The government has also said that UK-issued bank cards will be able to be used as ID for elections.
02:07Ministers are looking at plans for an automated voter registration scheme.
02:11And loopholes that let foreign donors donate to UK political parties via shell companies will be closed.
02:18The government hopes that these reforms will encourage young people to play a more active role in society and improve public levels of trust in the political system.
02:26Expect much more parliamentary scrutiny on all of this when MPs return from their summer breaks in September.
