Just days away from the UK's first e-vote, Sheffield has launched a pioneering e-democracy website to promote text messaging and internet polling taking place during the May 2 local elections.

Following top level government concern over declining voter turnout - only 39 per cent of young people voted in the 2001 general election - e-voting is a key plank in a strategy to "reconnect" with voters.

Elected politicians also face the spectre of French style political upsets, as voters turn-off mainstream parties, turn-on to extremism or stay at home.

Following a cabinet level lead from Robin Cook - who recently called for an online civic Commons to overcome electoral "alienation" - Sheffield City Council believes "making the voting process more convenient and relevant to voters' lifestyles" will boost turnout and re-engage the young.

And as Sheffield gears up for the World Snooker Championship, EvoteSheffield.com "also gives young voters the chance to test their skills in its very own snooker challenge - Could you pot the black to win the Championships?"

"The message of the campaign is clear: some things in life may be difficult but it's easy to e-vote," said a spokesman.

Site developer Andrew Murphy argues that if "young people are going to participate in democracy it is vital that the information they receive is relevant to their lifestyle".

"The simple instructions and engaging graphics of EvoteSheffield.com are designed to communicate key facts about the voting process in a way young people are used to."

The city council's chief executive Bob Kerslake believes that "it is vital that young people are involved in the election of local representatives, and given the choice to vote using methods that suit them".

"Our young voters can now vote in the way they communicate every day, selecting their favoured candidate with a mobile phone text message or via the internet on PC or at one of Sheffield's many public information kiosks. I hope that this extra choice, and the information on EvoteSheffield.com, will encourage many more young people to vote in this year's local elections," he said.

Developed by election.com and Spinon - the people who brought you the "Egg Prescott" game last June - the website includes animations illustrating how to use each e-voting method, a short movie putting e-voting in a historical context, and an interactive forum "enabling the voter the opportunity to air their views on e-voting and local politics in general".

E-voting using mobile phone text message and the internet, via a home computer or public access kiosk, will be possible in the Sheffield wards of Hallam, Manor and Nether Edge.

Voting in these wards will take place over the course of a week, from April 26 to May 2.