The Electoral Commission will today begin a consultation on lowering the voting age.

The government elections adviser will look at whether the minimum age for participation and candidacy in ballots should be changed.

Falling turnouts and declining interest in politics among young people has prompted the move.

At present citizens have to be 18-years-old before they can vote and 21 to stand in elections.

Opinion pollsters MORI estimated that turnout amongst 18 to 24-year-olds fell to just 39 per cent at the 2001 general election.However, a survey carried out by the British Household Panel showed that nearly 30 per cent of 15 to 17-year-olds reported being either "very" or "fairly" interested in politics - higher than the equivalent figure for 18 to 20-year-olds.

Commissioners will carry out a survey, meet with representatives of the UK youth parliament and assess opinion at the autumn party conferences."The right to vote is one of the most important you can have in a democratic country," electoral commissioner Glyn Mathias said.

"The key question for this review is whether young people under 18 should be given that right to vote or be able to stand as a candidate before they are 21.

"The commission starts this review with a completely open mind on these issues and we do want to hear from as many people as possible, especially young people themselves."

The youth representative on the Labour Party's National Executive Committee recently told ePolitix.com that a reduction in the voting age is on the cards.

But he argued that it should not be seen as a "palliative" for the deeper reasons behind the lack of engagement in politics.

"Taxation without representation can never be justified," Jonny Reynolds said.

"But my worry would be that it will used by politicians as a palliative for the problems the political system faces in relation to engaging with young people and prevent them to really facing up to the reality of the situation."

Conservatives expressed scepticism that such a move would solve the problems of voter apathy.

"Lowering the voting age does nothing to address the underlying problems of political disillusionment among young people, and will just lead to young people abstaining from an even earlier age," said shadow attorney general and constitutional affairs spokesman Bill Cash.

"Clearly, a line must be drawn to indicate when a young person becomes an adult, and the present age of 18 is widely accepted across society as signifying a major turning point in the personal development and maturity of individuals."

But the move was welcomed by the Votes at 16 campaign.

"This is a major consultation on a very important subject," said campaign manager Alex Folkes.

"At stake is the chance to correct one of the major aberrations in our electoral process.

"We believe that the current voting age of 18 means that many young people are denied the chance to have their say when they want to and this breeds a disconnection from formal politics. Such a disconnection is not easily ended.

"Lowering the voting age to 16 would not only bring it into line with other key ages - such as the school leaving age and the age at which a person can get married - but would also help to get people into the habit of voting earlier."