Lord Falconer

Education secretary Charles Clarke and lord chancellor Lord Falconer are among senior Labour ministers ready to support a lowering of the voting age to 16.

The Electoral Commission is expected to recommend that 16 year olds are included on the electoral roll when it launches its report into political alienation amongst the young next Monday.

The government has said it will give "serious consideration" to the idea.

If it approves the proposals a pledge to change the law could be ratified at the Labour conference in the autumn and included in the next Labour manifesto.

The proposal follows a nine month investigation by the commission into disengagement among 18-25 year olds.

In addition to lowering the voting age, which would be the first reduction since 1969, the commission is also considering recommending reducing the age at which somebody can stand to be an MP to 18.

Some campaigners are even hoping to see a reduction to 16.

The Conservatives support lowering the age of candidacy, but not voting. The Liberal Democrats are enthusiastic supporters of lowering both to 16.

The commission, chaired by Sam Younger, is expected to argue that not allowing 16-year-olds to vote when they pay tax, and when they are able to drive, get married and serve in the armed forces, is unfair.

Participation

The report is also expected to suggest that developing the habit of voting at the earliest opportunity sets young people up for a lifetime of political participation.

The government appears willing to have a debate on these arguments.

"If we want to both engage young people and make them discharge their responsibilities then I think there's got to be a quid pro quo of letting them see greater influence in the political process", Lord Falconer said in an interview with the Observer in December 2003.

Tony Blair, who had declared himself against the idea, has begun to play down his opposition.

He now says he is "undecided". “There’s obviously a case for saying ‘people grow up much more quickly, there are many things you can do at 16, why shouldn’t you be able to vote?’,” he has said.

However, other campaigners are vehemently opposed to lowering the voting age.

Philip Cowley, a lecturer at the politics department at the University of Nottingham, argues that the pro-lobby's arguments are "deeply illogical and confused".

He has set up a website, Votes for Adults, which hosts a forum for those against a drop to 16.

He dismisses the argument that voting young promotes voting often, saying the turnout would be even lower if the 16-18 age group were included.

He also claims that not voting is something younger people "grow out of".