With an upcoming election, politicians from all sides worry that fewer people are turning out to vote, and who's voting for who and why. So now is a good time to think about who gets to vote and who doesn't. In fact, all over Europe, different groups are asking why 16-year-olds shouldn't be allowed to have their say in politics.

The debate

Here in Scotland, the Scottish Youth Parliament wants young people's voices to be heard more in politics. "It's a fundamental part of our manifesto to lower the voting age to 16, " says Youth Parliament Chair, Paul Kane. "Turning 16 gives you enormous responsibilities - you can even get married. The government has a huge impact on your life, yet you can't vote for who represents you." Political parties, such as The Scottish Greens, The Scottish Socialists, and the Scottish National Party, are among those who have been campaigning (separately, of course) for years to reduce the voting age to 16 from the current 18. They all argue that since at age 16 a person is considered to be old enough to pay taxes, join the army to fight for their country or leave full-time education, then surely they are old enough to vote. Donnie Nicolson of Scottish Socialist Youth calls this a "democratic deficit":

"It doesn't make sense that a 16-year-old can participate in society but not take part in the process of putting government together, " he says.

While the line has to be drawn somewhere, why is 18 currently the magic number? Well, it's the age at which the UN define adulthood, and in most countries the voting age is 18.

Other aspects of adulthood, such as being legally independent from your parents, and borrowing money, also happen at 18.

But in the 2001 General Election only 59.4per cent of possible voters turned out to have their say.

Allowing 16-year-olds to vote might send a message to younger voters that the government is worth taking an interest in. But does that mean it's the right move? The Scottish Conservatives are more interested in getting those who can already vote to do so.

According to a spokesperson: "We don't believe that the case for a lowering of the age has been made and are content for it to remain at 18. The bigger issue is how all politicians engage with those who can vote to give them reasons to join in the democratic process."

But Robin Harper MSP, a former teacher and leader of the Green Party in Scotland, believes the people who suggest that teenagers wouldn't use their vote just aren't communicating with young people.

"Of course 16-year-olds would use their vote, " he says. "Right now, we're teaching children that democracy doesn't work, that their voices don't count. If they had more input, they would learn that they can make a difference." Harper also supports getting teenagers involved at a local council level.

"These teenagers are affected more than anyone by local council issues, such as youth projects, or sales of playing fields."

However, many teenagers feel that they aren't ready to vote. Owen, studying Modern Studies Higher at Glasgow's St Aloysius' College, says: "We do understand the processes of politics, but not the policies of the parties." His classmate Harriet agrees. "It's that we don't have the life experience, " she says. Jonathan, 16, points out that many teenagers just don't have a grasp of what politics and policies mean to their lives. "Sixteen-year-olds are often still dependent, " he says. "Most of them still live at home, they're not fully part of society, so they don't really know much about the outside world."

The way politics is presented is a problem too. According to some teenagers, politicians just aren't speaking their language. "In the States, they have mass rallies in football stadiums when they're campaigning, " adds Harriet. "Local politicians should do that, be more in-your-face, address us directly."

A Nestle Family Monitor/MORI poll in 2003 showed that 11 to 18-year-olds are interested in their local communities, but haven't much faith in the processes of national politics. So moving the voting age to 16 might force government to consider policies affecting that age group more seriously.

However, there are other ways to get involved. Former youth parliament member, Holly, 17, from Ayr says "The youth parliament is listened to in Holyrood. It's actually a better way to represent your age group than to have one vote."

The result

There seems to be a prevailing attitude of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" among the British public - around 60per cent of people support leaving the voting age at 18, in line with other rights of adulthood. But in parts of Germany and Austria, where a similar debate has been going on, 16 and 17-year-olds have been given the right to vote in local elections, although not in national ones. So hold on to your voting slips, perhaps the rest of the EU will follow suit.