Only 59% of voters went to the polls this year

But it also accepts that making voting easier would help.

In advance of the report's publication, commission chairman Sam Younger said: "The commission is determined to press forward at once with an agenda for making voting easier and more user friendly."

The report suggests looking at:

• Voting over the internet or by phone
  
• Polling over several days
  
• Better funding and training for those organising polls
  
• Making registering to vote easier

It calls for a targeted programme of voter education that tackles, in particular, the low turnout among ethnic minority communities and younger people.

"Perhaps the single most important issue arising from the 2001 General Election is the need to address, urgently and radically, the decline in public participation," the report said.

The commission also suggests a review of the design of ballot papers so that disillusioned voters can make a "positive abstention".

The commission is enthusiastic for postal voting, saying there was no significant increase in fraud.

The value of party political broadcasts is questioned by the report

It suggested that a televised debate between major party leaders could be beneficial.

But it questioned the value of party political broadcasts, and whether they do anything to encourage people to vote.

The commission chose not to examine the case for making voting compulsory. In Australia, where those who do not vote are fined, turnout is 95%.

The commission was established last year. It has regulatory, educational and modernising responsibilities for electoral law and practice.