Author: Nicky Milsted

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Evidence and Good Practice on Lowering the Voting Age to 16

In January 2025, the UK Democracy Fund published Evidence and Good Practice on Lowering the Voting Age to 16.

Ellen Berry, Head of the UK Democracy Fund, explains more about the research and recommendations in this blog post.

 

Written by Dr Christine Huebner, University of Sheffield & Dr Jan Eichhorn, University of Edinburgh, the briefing summarises key evidence on the outcomes of lowering the voting age to 16 from countries that have extended the franchise to younger people, and provides an overview of emerging evidence on what is important in the implementation and delivery of voting age reform in the UK.

 

International evidence consistently demonstrates that extending the franchise to young people from the age of 16 can increase their overall participation in democracy, and that there are no notable negative outcomes for young people or society more broadly. Research shows that young people are able to select who they vote for in the same way as other voters, with the same standard of decision making as older adults.

Votes at 16 has the potential, however, to challenge inequalities in participation and improve attitudes to democracy.

  • Votes at 16 can counter low voting amongst other demographics, having positive impacts on democratic equality and addressing low turnout.
  • There is some evidence that it can impact young people’s attitudes towards democracy and its responsiveness to their needs.
  • Evidence from Scotland shows that once the voting age was lowered, the policy became significantly more popular amongst older generations.

 

For franchise extension to reach its full potential, the below recommendations will be an important part of implementation:

  • Young people in Scotland and Wales currently have the right to vote in some elections. However, comprehensive franchise extension across all elections is more impactful.
  • Full inclusion for young people as democratic actors is an important part of implementation. Political parties can do more to engage young people, and they should be included in political debates and media coverage.
  • To take advantage of their new voting rights, young people must be on the electoral register. Currently 16- and 17-year-olds are registered at only 16%. Introducing automatic voter registration, adding young people to the register when they receive their National Insurance number at 16, would address this.
  • Considering the types of ID 16- and 17-year-olds tend to have will also be important as the Government reviews the Voter ID policy.
  • Access to good quality democratic education for young people is important. The Department of Education’s curriculum review provides an opportunity to address this, but it is not necessary for Votes at 16 to be delayed until the education issue is addressed.

 

Cover image of UK Democracy Fund briefing: Evidence and Good Practice on Lowering the Voting Age to 16Download the full briefing report here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Header image: Jane Campbell, Shutterstock

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Open letter to Prime Minister ahead of King’s Speech

Addressing inequality in the electoral system

In advance of the King’s Speech, the UK Democracy Fund coordinated a group of leading civil society organisations to come together to call on the new government to make voting easier. Building on the excellent work of many of our grantees registering people to vote, we ask for the barriers to be removed – bringing in Automatic Voter Registration and removing the Voter ID requirement.

 

You can see the open letter sent to the Prime Minister here.

 

And read more on a blog for ACEVO by Ellen Berry, Head of the UK Democracy Fund.

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Winners of SMK Awards 2024

Each year, JRRT sponsors the David & Goliath category at the SMK National Campaigner Awards in memory of former Chair Lord David Shutt. It celebrates individuals or small campaign groups that take on much bigger organisations and challenge vested power.

 

This year’s winners were revealed in May 2024. The top campaign in the David & Goliath category was The Justice For Omisha Campaign; one family and their community taking on the Home Office’s hostile environment immigration system and fighting for an NHS that is free to provide universal healthcare for all.

 

Congratulations to them, and to the shortlisted campaigns: Fawcett Society versus The Sun and Sustainable Farming Campaign from Sustain.

 

You can watch the full awards ceremony here:

And discover all the nominees and winners in all of the Awards can be explored on the SMK website here.

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General Election: Resources and links

Election 2019

 

JRRT and the UK Democracy Fund have collated several resources to help your campaigns and to provide advice and support:

 

Legal

 

Charity Law Rationale for the Promotion of Voter Engagement and Participation in Elections

This paper, commissioned by JRRT from Stone King LLP, explains how charities can target low voting demographics such as young people, renters or people from minoritised ethnicities for voter engagement and participation in the forthcoming election.  It has specific sections to help racial justice and environmental charities to understand the wide range of rationales available to many charities to advance their purposes through voter participation and will help Trustees to document this.  Download here.

 

Campaigning, Political Activity and Election Guide for Charities

A comprehensive guide from Stone King LLP, funded  by the Legal Education Foundation, for charities that wish to undertake campaigns. Download here.

 

UK Democracy Fund resources for Grantees

 

UK Democracy Fund: Voter registration and getting out the vote guide

The UK Democracy Fund was set up in 2019, and since then has invested considerably in voter participation campaigns in the UK. We have set an ambitious target of registering a million people from low voting groups before the 18 June deadline.  Through our research, and evaluation of learning from work we have funded we’ve developed a good understanding of what makes voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns successful. Find out more about how to run a successful campaign in this guide.

 

 

Collaboration and Networking

 

The Democracy Network

JRRT funds the Democracy Network, a network of people and organisations working on issues of power, democracy and voice in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are working to build a stronger democracy by connecting people and supporting collaboration, increasing knowledge, skills and resources, and coordinating effective influencing strategies and action. Find out more about their work and how to join the Network on their website.

 

Democracy Classroom

Funded by the UK Democracy Fund, Democracy Classroom from The Politics Project supports young people to engage in elections. It provides a shared hub of resources, training opportunities and events, created by a partnership of non-partisan organisations working on democracy, education and youth.

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SMK Campaigner Awards shortlists announced!

Each year, the Shelia McKechnie Foundation celebrates the best campaigns and campaigners with their SMK National Campaigner Awards. JRRT is proud to sponsor the David & Goliath category. It celebrates individuals or small campaign groups that take on much bigger organisations and challenge vested power.

 

And the shortlisted campaigns have just been revealed:

 

 

Sustainable Farming Campaign from Sustain

The Sustainable Farming Campaign is a leading voice in pushing for a sustainable farming future in the UK. They help amplify farmers’ voices in order to aid a farmer-led transition to nature friendly farming.

Read their full story here

 

The Justice For Omisha Campaign

The #JusticeForOmisha campaign is one family and their community taking on the Home Office’s hostile environment immigration system and fighting for an NHS that is free to provide universal healthcare for all.

 

The campaign has grown thanks to the efforts of a community of dedicated, fearless and caring campaigners, supported by Migrants Organise and Medact.

Read more about their campaign 

 

Fawcett Society versus The Sun

 Following The Sun’s publication of Jeremy Clarkson’s toxic and misogynistic column about the Duchess of Sussex, the Fawcett Society devised a campaign to call-out and make news media responsible for the misogyny that so often appears in our newspapers. To do this, they needed the press regulator, IPSO, to take action against The Sun. It was daunting for a small charity to go up against one of UK’s best read, commercial news brands, but it was a battle they needed to take on.

Read more about the Fawcett Society’s fight here

 

And the winners are…

Well, you don’t have long before you can find out! This year’s Awards ceremony will be live streamed from Central Saint Martins in London on Wednesday 15 May from 6:15pm to 8pm. Information about how to watch along will be announced on SMK’s website soon.

 

 

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SMK Awards: David & Goliath winner 2023

JRRT is proud to sponsor the David & Goliath Award at the SMK Awards, which celebrates individuals or small campaign groups that take on much bigger organisations and challenge vested power.

Our Award sponsorship is made in memory of former Director, Lord David Shutt.

And the 2023 winner has now been announced!

 

Congratulations to The Community Energy Revolution!

  • You want to buy locally baked bread? You can.
  • You want to buy locally brewed beer? You can.
  • You want to buy locally generated renewable energy? You can’t.

Power for People are co-ordinating grassroots advocacy across the UK for the Local Electricity Bill.

The Bill, if enacted, would empower community energy schemes to sell their clean energy back to their community. Their campaign has gathered cross-party support from more than 300 MPs.

In accepting the award, Steve Shaw and Corinna Miller from Power for People said:

“The Community Energy Revolution campaign would not have the impressive support it currently has in Parliament without the tireless advocacy of people in communities across the country. We have come a long way but are still working hard to see this change enacted – it is vital both for our communities and for the planet.”

Find out more about Power for People and join their Community Energy Revolution on their website.

 

And visit www.smk.org.uk/awards for lots more from the 2023 Awards!

 

Photo (top) courtesy of:
Hackney Banister House
 A community energy group located in London

 

 

You can watch the presentation of the 2023 David & Goliath Award below:

 

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Transparency, Diversity and Accountability – The Foundation Practice Rating 2023

JRRT is one of 13 funders supporting the Foundation Practice Rating, an initiative led by Friends Provident Foundation to improve practices of Trusts and Foundations on transparency, accountability and diversity.  Each year 100 of the UK’s biggest foundations are assessed, including the funders associated with the initiative.

 

Our results

In year 2, JRRT’s overall rating remains unchanged at B.  Our rating for diversity is C, accountability B (up from C the year before) and transparency A.  Within these we have made improvements on accountability and diversity.

 

DiversityAccountabilityTransparencyOverall rating
Year 2CBAB
Year 1CCAB

 

The limited improvements reflect work by the staff team.  We aim to make further changes this year, including three commitments sparked by the campaign to prompt participating Trusts to make pledges to improve.

 

Our pledges

This year, we plan to:

 

Year 2 report launched

The Foundation Practice Rating launched the full report into the Year 2 findings across the 100 sampled organisations in March 2023.

You can download the report from their website.

 

And watch the report launch event below:

 

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SMK Awards 2023: Shortlists announced!

Each year, the Shelia McKechnie Foundation celebrates the best campaigns and campaigners with their SMK National Campaigner Awards. Their aim is to recognise and honour those who have made change happen – most effectively, creatively and courageously. And the shortlists have just been announced!

 

JRRT is proud to sponsor the David & Goliath category at the SMK Awards. It celebrates individuals or small campaign groups that take on much bigger organisations and challenge vested power. Our sponsorship is made in memory of our friend and former Director, Lord David Shutt.

 

Shortlisted campaigns

The campaigns nominated in the 2023 David & Goliath category are:

 

Forgotten Fish Animal Equality’s ‘Forgotten Fish’ campaign highlights the overwhelming scientific consensus that fish can feel pain and suffer, just like all animals, and therefore should receive adequate protections in law.

 

The Community Energy Revolution Their campaign aims to unblock the remarkable potential for community energy schemes to flourish across the UK, creating new jobs, lowering energy bills, and generating money for community benefit.

 

Windrush Against Sewage Pollution A grassroots group of activists based near the River Windrush in Oxfordshire, WASP hit the news in June 2022, when their ground-breaking investigative work was used by environmental non-profit Wild Justice to take the water regulator Ofwat to court over its alleged failure to stop water companies discharging raw sewage into rivers.

 

 

 

Winners of the David & Goliath Award – and all the other SMK Awards – will be announced at a ceremony in London on 24 May 2023.

Check out the shortlists for all of the categories in the Awards, on the SMK website.