Young people could be encouraged to join in the political process by being allowed to vote at 16. And the age for electoral candidates could become 18 instead of the current 21, says an Electoral Commission consultation document.
The turnout at the 2001 General Election among 18-24 year olds is said to have been just 39%.
Would you want 16-year-old voters? Would it encourage more young people to take part?
This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.
The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:
I am disgusted by the ignorance evident on this page. I am 16 years old and if you doubt my knowledge of politics feel free to challenge it, but do not generalise a whole generation by a media definition. If people are assumed to be mature enough to leave school at 16, or get married then most certainly the voting age should be lowered. Perhaps the people with such prejudiced views are afraid of a younger generation gaining some real power?
James McEnaney, Scotland
Change everything to 18, this would make it fair. No sex before 18, no tax payment until 18, no armed services members until 18 and no marriage until 18. 18 seems the youngest sensible age so why not make everything the same?
Duncan, London, UK
 |  Raise it to 25 and introduce a mandatory political knowledge test  |
It's a shame this "have your say" didn't ask for respondents' ages. I expect all of the "yes" votes are younger people. I'm 30, and I know I wasn't mature, responsible or knowledgeable enough to vote meaningfully at 16 or even 18. Raise it to 25, I say, and introduce a mandatory political knowledge test at the polling stations!
Mark, UK As a large proportion of young people on reaching the age of 18 can't be bothered to vote for various reasons, what on earth is the point in letting 16 year olds vote? What self respecting 16 year old is going to be interested in politics anyway? I can just picture them behind the bike sheds having a shifty fag discussing the government's foreign policy.
Nik, UK
Voting at 16? A gimmick, nothing more. I didn't understand politics until I was at least 25, so I really don't think anything good would come from making 16 year olds, the targets for political marketing. These days politics is little more than a product; it's no wonder we're all too apathetic to vote.
Peter McGarvey, UK Quite the contrary, the voting age should be raised to 21 and a basic general knowledge test be completed before people are allowed to vote. The poor quality of government both local and central and the perceived need to make the process more "relevant" (a ludicrous expression)is clearly a function of widespread ignorance amongst the population. The cult of personality reigns supreme in such an environment and we have the government we deserve.
John Hellett, UK
In a word, no. 16 year olds have little experience to base a political decision on. A little bit more wisdom, gained through education and work experience, makes a difference.
Stuart, UK
Rather than lowering the age threshold, the political powers should address the real issue: why are voters staying at home? The proposed solution to increase election turnout does little to solve the underlying problem of the electorate's loss of confidence in national politics. It would be commendable if the political powers would make an effort to appeal to those already eligible to vote.
Rob, Surrey, UK
When you vote you are deciding which party will spend your tax money and what they will spend it on. Therefore if you pay tax, then you should get a vote. This rule should be carried out across the country so that the people who put into the country decide what they get back.
Matt, UK
I agree with Matt- one taxpayer, one vote!
Stephen, UK
I see that many people seem to believe that those who pay tax should have the right to vote; a particularly Victorian view of democracy! But everyone pays taxes in one form or another whether through income or spending (VAT anybody?). Therefore maybe the voting net should spread a little if this argument is to be so crassly used.
Richard Davies, UK
| It's not like the electorate has any real choice |
Oh yes, certainly. By the time this becomes law the standard of education will have declined so much that 16 year olds can be expected to have a mainly media-defined opinion. Just more voters to manipulate - get them while they're young. Wouldn't the lower turnout be more a function of disillusionment rather than age? It's not like the electorate has any real choice with an ineffective Tory party on one side, a spinning Labour on the other side and a Lib Dem which has yet to find its own agenda and identity. As already said earlier, adding a 'none of the above' box would yield better results.
Peter H, UK Why not? You can leave home, get married and have children at 16, you can go to war and die for your country at 17, but yet you cannot vote for the Government that sends you to war until you are 18. Yes 16 year olds should be able to vote.
David Hobden, England
I have just grown up at last. I am 28, and now have some solid opinions that are based on facts and my own political swing. It has taken me this long to understand how not to believe everything you see in the newspapers. In fact, it is difficult to trust the media at all. So I would not be surprised if, given the vote at 16, the majority of teenagers merely follow the line of whichever paper they are reading.
Paul, UK
Perhaps politicians should be looking at the real reasons behind voter apathy, rather than tinkering around with the voting age and postal votes.
Ian Henderson, UK
At 18 I voted in my first election for Mrs T. I still voted for the Tories in the next election. I then saw the light and stopped following my parents voting habits and formed my own views. 16 year olds may think they are knowledgeable and worldly-wise but my opinions are only just beginning mature and I am 38. Raise the age to 21, at least!
Dave, UK
Yes, people should be able to vote at 16. They're usually mature enough; they often work for a living (no taxation without representation?!) But people should be 21 to become UK MP's, I think. (There's a big difference in voting and becoming an elected representative. It needs a little more maturity, I think).
John G. Melhuish, UK
Certainly not. I think if we as a society were thinking straight, we should raise the voting age to at least 25. However, while this would be the wise thing to do, it is not going to happen. There is enough political ignorance among the mature voting public, thanks to the bias of the Media giants, who confine the "news" to what they want us to know.
Brian Houston, Canada
Oh come on! 16 year olds are pimply oiks worried about what's in the top 40 or whether they'll be able to look old enough to get into the pubs (that describes me, anyway). By the way, the argument about paying tax is a nonsense - all children pay 17.5% tax every time they buy something. But the idea of making everyone entitled to the vote actually vote is a good one. There's nothing to stop you spoiling your ballot, but at least make the effort to think about it.
James Maxwell, Australia / UK
If MPs were to become slightly more adult in their conduct in the House of Commons (have you ever watched Prime Minister's question time - it's worse than a school playground!) it might inspire some respect from the electorate that would make more people think that politics was worth taking an interest in.
Simon Falworth, UK
I'm 20 and clearly remember being 16 and 18. Although I was interested in politics at 16 I did not begin to understand it in any depth. If asked at 16 if I would like to vote I would have said yes, but now I do not think it is a good idea. Politics should be made a compulsory subject in schools. By making sure people grew up with an understanding of politics then less would be apathetic anyway. Currently we are just expected to pick up the knowledge, but if you do not have parents interested in politics or if you don't read newspapers, watch the news or study it, then you have little chance of learning about the subject..
Elizabeth Tringham, Britain If 16-year-olds have to pay full fares on public transport, adult prices at the cinema (but can't see an 18 film) and have consenting sexual relations they should be allowed to vote. The idealism that is so much a feature of youth could then permeate into the politics of this country leading to a far more proportionate and reflective outcome in elections.
Jason Murphy, UK
Introduce a dummy vote for all school children - make it part of the national curriculum, so that young people will learn how voting works - and can start to develop opinions and knowledge about politics.
Anne-Marie, London, UK
You can pay taxes at 16, you can die for your country (in contravention of UN rules on child soldiers), you can help populate it, so why on earth can't you vote for its government? Perhaps we're expected to get drunk before voting?
Colin MacDonald, Scotland
| Hardly anyone in my year has a political view |
I am 17 and in sixth form education. I look around me and see that hardly anyone in my year has a political view. There are a few who are motivated by politics. Of the rest; some choose a view because of their parents or their ideology (without even knowing about a party's policies) and most don't care - simply we don't see it as affecting us. I personally have no idea how one party would affect my life as opposed to another - perhaps this is ignorance or lack of responsibility but I feel it is a commonly held view.
Alex, UK I think all taxpayers should be able to vote, regardless of age. Everyone should have the right to affect how their money is spent. If you don't pay tax you shouldn't get a vote!
Chris R, UK
No way - 16-year-olds have no idea how taxation affects people as they don't pay it. When I look back on my views when I was 16 it scares me to death. This is just a way to try to get more votes for Labour as most 16-year-olds are idealistic and are so drawn to Labour's policies.
Sandy, UK
| How many current voters have detailed knowledge of the policies of all the major parties? |
Sandy, UK - there are plenty of 16 and 17-year-olds who are in work and paying tax. We let people join the army at 16. We let them get married at 16. Why not let them vote at 16? The issue of whether they will use their vote wisely is a red herring - how many current voters have a mature and detailed knowledge of the policies of all the major political parties?
John, England I think that 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote. They DO pay tax if they have any substantial part-time work or left school at 16, no matter what Sandy thinks. Social welfare policy and education policy also affects them but they are unrepresented democratically.
Stuart Wallace, UK
| Having 16-year-olds voting will just make governmental spin go haywire to influence them |
Good call, Sandy, UK - I look back at my own opinions when I was 16 and laugh. Teenagers are idealistic and will be drawn to left wing policies. They say that if you are under 30 and don't vote Labour, you don't have a heart and if you are over 30 and don't vote Conservative, you don't have a brain :+). Personally, I think you should be 25 before you can vote - having 16-year-olds voting will just make governmental spin go haywire to influence them.
Ross Smith, UK I don't understand how lowering the voting age by two years will magically make young people more interested in politics. If you ask me, the longer they are unable to vote, the longer they will have this view that their vote actually counts. As we all know, no matter how important it is to vote, at the end of the day, your vote changes little.
Lee R, UK
I remember when it went down to 18, from 21, and I also remember starting to grow up at about 26. 16 is way too young to have an informed opinion ie not set by government propaganda, newspapers or TV. In fact 18 is too young as you really do not have any life experiences by that age.
Richard King, England
| A welcome contrast to the present conservatism and apathetic cynicism |
The worst thing you could say about 16-year-olds is that they are often naive, non-conformist, idealistic and irrational. A welcome contrast to the present conservatism and apathetic cynicism which infects the British political system and even threatens democracy.
Bob Stevens, UK Hmm yes. Let's have Justin Timberlake or Miss Dynamite as prime minister shall we? I don't think that the younger generation care much for politics, unless it swings very much in their favour. For that reason, I don't believe that lowering the voting age is a good idea. Leave it to the taxpayers who help to pay for the running of this country.
Andy, UK
If you want to increase voting, have it at weekends and extend it over Saturday and Sunday so it's more convenient for busy people. Unfortunately Labour wouldn't do that, because they're interested only in increasing voting among people who'd vote for them.
Alex Swanson, UK
What's the point? There is nobody worth voting for anyhow.... Give us a "none of the above" box - that will get the voters back into the booths.
Ian, UK
I agree with Ian, a 'none of the above' box on the voting slip would prevent the likes of Blair claiming a mandate from the people when the voting turn out was the lowest since 1918. My contemporise and myself have long considered that this would bring voters back to the voting booths. Imagine the jolt to our politicians when constituency after constituency had 'none of the above' as the largest number of votes cast. It would not change the outcome but it would reverse an awful lot of the spin.
Graham , UK
| Why should I bother going out to vote when I know it will not make a difference to my life at all? |
I don't think it would help at all. It would just be another load of people to add to the statistics of those that don't vote. The public doesn't vote, not because they are lazy, but because we feel that we have been left behind by politicians who are only interested in lining their own pockets and those of their fat cat friends. Why should I bother going out to vote when I know it will not make a difference to my life at all? I will still pay tax, while the richest man in the UK pays none.
Vish, UK 16-year-olds should not be able to vote. Their views are not based on any real experience, and tend to be idealistic and simplistic. They would also be more likely to vote the same as their peers, just to keep in fashion. I am not saying it gets much better at 18, but the line has to be somewhere.
Wyatt, England
The way to get more people to take part is to make it mandatory to vote, not lowering the minimum age. It annoys me how many people complain about the government and then say they didn't vote because they don't see the point.
Tim, UK
Another cheap catch for Labour votes ....
Andy, UK
| There is actually a strong argument for raising the voting age to 21 |
Until politics re-engages people we are not going to see increases in voter turnout. Giving a vote to people who most likely don't pay taxes, don't drive, and aren't involved in many of the things governments do, would gain nothing. There is actually a strong argument for raising the voting age to 21, since so many people go to university now and are therefore not paying taxes until much later in life.
Dave, UK It is legal to be married at the age of 16! If it's OK to have a wife and children at that age then of course 16-year-olds should be able to vote.
Chris White, England
Votes for 16-year-olds means even more pathetic attempts at being 'trendy' from politicians. Don't let's give them any more of an excuse to ignore the real, necessary-but-uncool issues in society!
Ed, UK
Absolutely not. In my experience even those exiting university as graduates are hopelessly politically naive, and have little idea of the key differences between political parties and of their histories. Come to that many adults are, frankly, too stupid to use their votes wisely - witness the rise in votes for the BNP if you need evidence of that. Perhaps voters should have to participate in a short aptitude test to see if they are capable of voting, in the same way as one has to pass a written test to drive a car these days - it would do wonders for the quality of our democracy.
Peter, UK
| They should make more of an effort to inform and educate young teens about politics |
No. I am 16 and know many people who don't take an active interest in politics. If the government wants 16-year-olds to vote then they should make more of an effort to inform and educate young teens about politics.
Anna, Glasgow, Scotland It won't help Labour, if the sentiments of the hundreds of kids who protested against the 'war' are to be believed.
Jane, UK
No. People at 16 are usually in a different mind frame to the rest of humanity - I know I was. Exceptions of course could be members of the armed services, who have decided to accept some form of responsibility. Unfortunately, today sees the fact that some 18-year-olds are not mature enough to vote. I suppose that giving 16-year-olds the vote, could relieve us of President Blair on the basis that they might want to go to university!!
Paul, UK
| A bit of honesty in politics is what is needed |
I don't think reducing the voting age will make people vote. Making MPs and those in politics stand up and apologise when they have made a mistake might. A bit of honesty in politics is what is needed.
Robert Duncan, UK Well, a part of me wants to say yes. But bigger parts of me say no and the reason is sad. I'm in my early 30s but am astonished at the lack of intelligence, cultural awareness and sense of responsibility that many of today's teenagers have.
Hilary, UK
Perhaps if politicians represented the majority, rather than themselves and big business, and used common sense rather than dogma, we would not need these gimmicks.
John C, Bath, England
Allowing 16-year-olds to vote will introduce the views of another section of society. This will be a boost for the electoral process, as well as proving popular amongst sixth formers.
Michael Pala, UK
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