Plan to lower California vote age

Concerns over apathy among young voters are widespread

Californian children as young as 14 could be given the right to vote under proposals to increase interest in politics.

Under the plans, put forward by four Democrat state senators, they would be able to cast ballots in state and local elections.

But their vote would not have equal weight to that of an adult.

For example, a 14 year old would only get a "quarter" of a vote. A 16 or 17 year old could constitute "half" an adult voter.

'Nutty idea'

Last year, the UK Electoral Commission revealed that it was considering lowering the minimum voting age from 18 in an effort to re-engage interest.

At the last general election, in 2001, less than 40% of 18 to 24 year olds were estimated to have cast a ballot, dropping to just 11% at 2002's local elections in England.

Lawmakers in California fear the same apathy among young voters. They say giving teenagers partial votes would get them interested in the election process.

The amendment would also not violate the US constitution, as long as it only applied to state and local ballots.

"We believe it's time to open up the franchise to young Californians at the age of 14, let them register and vote and be seriously included in the process," said Democratic State Senator John Vasconcellos.

He added that the internet, mobile phones and multi-channel television had made teenagers better informed than their predecessors.

"When we gave the vote to those who didn't own property, then to women, then to persons of all colours, we added to the richness of our democratic dialogue and our own nation's integrity and its model for the world," Mr Vasconcellos said.

California would become the first state to amend its constitution to allow high school students to vote.

Republican State Senator Ray Haynes called it "the nuttiest idea I've ever heard".

He added: "There's a reason why 14 year olds and 16 year olds don't vote: they are not adults; they are not mature enough; they are easily deceived by political charlatans."

However, Robert Reynolds, a student at Berkeley High School, said: "If we could vote, politicians would see us as votes, not just kids, and they would take our issues seriously."