Campaigners have demanded a pre-election pledge from the three main parties to lower the voting age to 16 by the next general election.

The coalition, including the National Union of Students and the Electoral Reform Society, said it would "invigorate" the youth vote.

Campaigner Joseph Ammoun, 16, said: "Young people know what they think about issues."

The Liberal Democrats have already pledged to reduce the voting age to 16.

Pay taxes

Last year, following a 12-month review, the Electoral Commission rejected the idea of lowering the voting age.

Both the Labour and Conservative parties followed the commission's lead by ruling out a change.

The UK's 1.5m 16 and 17-year-olds would become further alienated from the democratic process if they continued to be excluded from voting, claimed the Votes at 16 coalition.

The group said that if people at 16 were able to leave home, get a full-time job, pay taxes, raise children and join the armed forces they should also be able to vote.

Lowering the voting age could also help to reinvigorate the youth vote by forcing MPs to take an active interest in the issues that concern young people, they said.

The group - which also includes the Children's Rights Alliance for England, British Youth Council and Children's Parliament in Scotland - have written to the party leaders, asking them to promise to extend the franchise.

The letter urged them to "demonstrate their faith in and respect for younger citizens by working to ensure that 16 and 17 year-olds are no longer unnecessarily denied a stake in their democracy".

Louise King, of the Children's Rights Alliance, said: "At 16 and 17, young people's lives are as rich and varied as at any other age.

Citizenship education

"They have considerable responsibilities and routinely make complex decisions but adult society does not consider them responsible enough to vote.

"This is both illogical and unjust."

Matthew Green, Liberal Democrat spokesman for young people, said the party would allow voting and standing for office at 16.

"We believe that involving young people earlier in the political process will lead to a lifetime of interest and activism," he said.

In April 2004 the Electoral Commission recommended a further review within five to seven years to give time for more research on the social and political awareness of those at the current minimum voting age of 18.

The commission also said compulsory citizenship education in UK schools would have by then had time to develop.

no. why? cos im 16 and i couldnt give a rats ass about that kinda stuff

So why deny other people your age who do give a rats ass the chance to have their say?

Joseph Ammoun, 16, said: "Young people know what they think about issues."

The group - which also includes the Children's Rights Alliance for England, British Youth Council and Children's Parliament in Scotland - have written to the party leaders, asking them to promise to extend the franchise.

hmm, i dunno about the uk, but here (aus) you are required to vote.

cos im 16 and i couldnt give a rats ass about that kinda stuff

Like what, for example? Well, educating kids about politics, and doing something about voter apathy. By age 16 (when they can leave home) kids know a lot about sex, quite a lot about taxes (enough, anyway, to pay them) and practically nothing about politics. That needs to change before 16 year olds should be given the vote. The point that they're given the responsibility in other areas still stands, but that's based on them knowing a bit about it. The 16 year olds who know about politics are those who look into it themselves.

No even thought I dont come from the UK and Im 16 I dont think most 16 year olds are responsible enought to make there own indepentid descion on something like this and are more easly to go with the larger group even if it may be the wrong one.

I can't see how it can possibly be a bad thing. 16/17 year olds pay taxes. They can smoke. They can have children. They can drive. They can do many of the things that adults do and they have many of the same responsibilities.

If they lowered it and 90% of them didn't use their vote, whats the problem? It's given the 10% that care the chance to place their vote. No-ones losing anything.

As for standing for office at 16 - there's more to disagree with on that.

I don't think letting 16 year olds vote would be a good idea. During this past election in the States, most of my friends (mind you, I am 16) and I were very passionate in our politcal views. We would have jumped at the chance to vote for our party. The problem with most of my peers was that they were extremely un-informed about either politcal party. Many of them supported Bush because the Democrats wanted "to take guns away" or even "Kerry looks weird" and many supported Kerry because "Bush is a war monger who kills little children." Very few of them took the time to research the actual facts about either party. I did, however, and formed my opinion based on the facts. Not what my other friends thought, and not what my parents thought. I don't trust my friends voting for the president. Why do you think the US has the Electoral College? It was setup because they felt the people could not effectively choose the president directly. Setting a certain age for voting is no different.

Those who are 18 tend to be much more independent. Many are moving away from home for the first time out of high school and going to college. They won't be as easily influenced by their parents or anyone else for that matter. I do realize that there are many 18+ year olds who do vote with biased views, but I think you'll find that number will be significantly higher in the 16-17 year old category. Two years may not seem like much, there is a lot of maturing going on in those two years.

Again, the exact same thing happens regardless of what age they are.

As a friend of mine put it "18 year olds are exactly the same and do exactly the same things as 16 year olds. Just for them its legal"

"Kerry looks weird" and many supported Kerry because "Bush is a war monger who kills little children."

Michael Howard has annoying hands.

I dunno what it is, but there's something about Michael Howard that creeps me out. Whenever he says 'Hello' he sounds like he's about to con you out of a large amount of money.

Controoooooooooooooool.

Michael Howard has annoying hands.

His hands/arms remind me of the puppets and Thunderbirds - that jerky kind of movement.

I can't see how it can possibly be a bad thing. 16/17 year olds pay taxes. They can smoke. They can have children. They can drive. They can do many of the things that adults do and they have many of the same responsibilities.

If they lowered it and 90% of them didn't use their vote, whats the problem? It's given the 10% that care the chance to place their vote. No-ones losing anything.

As for standing for office at 16 - there's more to disagree with on that.

Exactly!

Standing for office at 16? 18 would be more appropriate. I would expect all politicians to have A-Levels...

I don't care what academic qualifications an MP has if they can do the job well.

My concern would be granting a 16 year old the ability to make decisions that affect that the population they represent. I think the 'legal' adult age of 18 makes more sense for that.

Unless everything which defines being an adult as 16 (i.e. bus tickets, etc) stops, then 16s should be able to vote. As said before you get plenty of people now days that vote what their family have always voted, vote on looks, vote on one policy, regardless of age all generations do this. I think we need to stand up and stop being teachers, educators, students, office workers, etc and be people, and realise that we mature at different ages and that people will always be influenced, conned and immature no matrer what the age. I should remind you guys that the Monster Raving Looney Party, The Church of the Militant Elvis, the BNP and other joke political organisations were created by adults, hows that for mature? especially the non-16 years olds that vote for them....

I've already said I think 16 year olds should vote...