Plans to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote are an important step in widening participation in our democracy. But if we are inviting a new generation to take part in the democratic process, we also need to make sure the system they are entering is straightforward, accessible and fit for the way they choose to live their lives.

The proposed changes under the Representation of the People Bill could give around 1.7 million additional people the right to vote. There is already experience to build on, with 16 and 17-year-olds able to vote in Scottish and Welsh devolved elections.

For electoral services teams, extending the franchise presents opportunity to look at the whole voter journey and ask where people might encounter barriers, and what we can do to remove them.

A generation used to accessing services instantly and digitally will have different expectations of public services. We need to think about how we can use digital channels can provide clear, timely information about registration, elections and how to participate, while ensuring that nobody is excluded because they cannot or do not want to engage digitally.

When it comes to the polling station experience itself, Cardiff has already gained valuable experience with votes for those at 16 a reality at the 2026 Senedd election and the 2022 Cardiff local elections.

Technology has an important role to play here, but electoral modernisation shouldn’t simply mean putting more technology into polling stations. The real test is whether it makes the experience better for voters and easier for those delivering elections.

In Cardiff, the introduction of Modern Democracy’s Modern Polling system has helped us move away from some of the more time-consuming administration associated with polling day. Digital voter check-in and verification provides staff with greater visibility and can reduce paperwork, allowing them to spend more time supporting voters who need assistance.

It also gives electoral teams better information about what is happening across polling stations, helping us to plan and respond more effectively.

That’s important because the polling station remains the frontline of our democracy. However sophisticated our systems become behind the scenes, the experience of walking into a polling station, understanding what to do and casting your vote with confidence is still fundamental.

Looking ahead, there is a much wider opportunity to use data and technology to understand where participation barriers exist, plan resources more effectively and explore more flexible ways for people to engage with elections.

Not every innovation will be right for elections, and security, accessibility and public confidence must always come first. But modernising the infrastructure around elections does not have to mean changing what makes our democracy trusted.

For Cardiff, our experience of votes at 16 has shown that change can be delivered successfully when there is proper planning and the right support in place.

The challenge now is to build on that experience and make sure the next generation encounters an electoral system that is as accessible, intuitive and inclusive as the democracy it is designed to support.