Electoral Administration Act 2006

17 Minimum age U.K.

(1) A person is disqualified for membership of the House of Commons if, on the day on which he is nominated as a candidate, he has not attained the age of 18.

(2) Subject to an order made by the House of Commons under section 6(2) of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24) as applied by subsection (3), if a person disqualified by subsection (1) for membership of that House is elected as a member of that House his election is void.

(3) Sections 6(2) to (4) and 7 of that Act apply in the case of a person disqualified by subsection (1) as they apply in the case of a person disqualified by that Act, and references in those sections to a person disqualified by that Act must be construed as including references to a person disqualified by subsection (1).

(4) In section 79(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) (qualifications for election and holding office as a member of a local authority) for “twenty-one” substitute “ eighteen ”.

(5) In section 20(3) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29) (minimum age for election as Mayor or Assembly member) for “21” substitute “ 18 ”.

(6) In section 3(1) of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 (C. 9) (qualifications for election and holding office as a councillor) for “twenty-one” substitute “ eighteen ”.

(7) The following enactments (which disqualify a person who has not attained the age of 21 for election as a Member of Parliament), so far as not previously repealed, cease to have effect—

(a) section 7 of the Parliamentary Elections Act 1695 (c. 25);

(b) the Election Act 1707 (cap. 8);

(c) section 74 of the Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1823 (c. 55).

(8) In section 6 of the Union with Scotland Act 1706 (c. 11) the words “It is always hereby expressly provided and declared that none shall be capable to elect or be elected for any of the said estates but such as are twenty one years complete” do not apply for the purpose of fixing the minimum age at which a person may be elected as a member of the House of Commons.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 17 wholly in force at 7.2.2007; s. 17 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 77; s. 17 in force for E.W.S. at 1.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3412, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 14 (d) (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2); s. 17 in force for N.I. at 7.2.2007 by S.I. 2007/230, art. 2