Representation of the People Bill Expands Voting Rights to 16 and 17 Year Olds While Strengthening Election Security Measures in the United Kingdom

The UK government is rolling out major new changes aimed at protecting elections from foreign interference and making democracy more open to more people.

Through a new piece of legislation called the Representation of the People Bill, ministers say they want to strengthen trust in politics, tighten rules around donations, and bring younger voters into the system.

It’s being described as one of the most significant expansions of democratic participation in a generation.

Blocking Foreign Money From Influencing British Politics

At the heart of the Bill is a tougher stance on political funding, especially when it comes from overseas.

The government says foreign actors have been able to exploit loopholes for too long — using shell companies or unclear funding channels to inject money into UK politics.

Under the new rules:

• Companies making political donations must prove a genuine UK connection
• Donations will only be allowed if the company is headquartered in Britain
• Businesses must be majority owned or controlled by UK citizens or electors
• Firms must show they have enough real revenue to cover the donation

This is designed to stop overseas interests from setting up fake structures purely to gain political influence.

Why the Government Says This Is Urgent

Ministers argue these reforms are necessary because threats to democracy are growing internationally.

They point to recent high-profile cases, including:

• Former MEP Nathan Gill
• Lawyer Christine Lee, accused of covert links to the Chinese Communist Party

The government says these examples highlight the need for stronger protections against covert political interference.

Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, made the government’s position clear: hostile foreign states will not be allowed to “buy” influence in British elections.

Votes at 16: A Major Change for Young People

Another headline reform is the extension of voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in all UK elections.

Around 1.7 million teenagers will gain the right to vote, fulfilling a manifesto pledge and bringing UK-wide elections in line with Scotland and Wales, where younger voting is already allowed in certain contests.

Democracy education is already part of the curriculum, and the government says it plans to go further by strengthening citizenship teaching from primary school onward.

Minister for Democracy Samantha Dixon said young people are eager to participate — and this Bill is meant to give them the opportunity and confidence to do so.

New Powers and Bigger Penalties for Rule-Breakers

The reforms also include tougher enforcement.

The Electoral Commission will be able to issue heavier fines — up to £500,000 — for breaches of political finance laws.

The Bill also builds on work like the Rycroft Review, which is exploring even more ways illicit money could enter politics, including through cryptocurrencies.

The message from government is simple: political funding must be cleaner, clearer, and easier to police.

Making Voting Easier With Flexible Polling Options

Alongside cracking down on interference, the government wants to remove practical barriers that stop people voting.

A small number of councils in England will test new flexible voting options during local elections in May 2026, such as:

• Polling stations in supermarkets
• Voting booths in train stations

The idea is to make voting fit more naturally into people’s daily lives.

These pilots will be evaluated before any national rollout.

Tackling Intimidation and Abuse in Public Life

The Bill also addresses a growing issue: harassment and intimidation around elections.

Abuse directed at candidates, campaigners, and electoral staff has risen sharply in recent years, with women and minority ethnic representatives often facing disproportionate attacks.

New measures include:

• Tougher sentences for electoral intimidation offences
• Better protections for campaigners and staff
• Removing the requirement for self-standing candidates to publish home addresses

These steps are part of wider efforts under the Defending Democracy Taskforce.

Fixing the Voter Registration Gap

Another focus is modernising voter registration.

The government estimates 7–8 million eligible people are either missing from the register or incorrectly registered.

The Bill commits to exploring new digital and data-based systems to improve registration and ensure more people can take part.

Support From Democracy and Election Experts

Several organisations have welcomed parts of the reforms.

Harriet Andrews from The Politics Project said extending the vote to younger people challenges the myth that teenagers don’t care about politics.

Meanwhile, Laura Lock of the Association of Electoral Administrators said lowering the voting age brings welcome consistency across the UK — and that addressing abuse and intimidation is long overdue.

What’s Next?

The government plans to deliver these reforms during the lifetime of this Parliament, with the goal of having them in place before the next General Election.

Key next steps include:

• Parliamentary scrutiny and debate on the Bill
• More details on the May 2026 flexible voting pilots
• Further work on tackling illicit finance, including crypto-related risks
• Continued expansion of civic and democracy education in schools

If passed, these reforms could reshape how Britain votes, funds politics, and protects elections for decades to come.

Summary

The Representation of the People Bill introduces sweeping changes to UK democracy, including stricter rules to block foreign money from influencing elections, extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds, tougher enforcement powers for the Electoral Commission, and pilot schemes to make voting more accessible.

The Bill also addresses intimidation in public life and aims to modernise voter registration, marking one of the biggest democratic reforms in a generation.