The Electoral Commission has concluded that the voting age should not be reduced to 16.

The recommendation, in a report published on Monday, appeared to have the backing of a majority of MPs.

But the electoral watchdog did recommend that the minimum candidacy age should be reduced from 21 to 18.

After studying the situation in other European and Commonwealth countries, and considering public opinion, the commission concluded that 18 was the predominant voting age and that this was generally linked to the minimum candidacy age.

"The evidence from the review suggests that while many young people under 18 would feel ready to vote, there are just as many who feel that 16 is too young," said commission chief Sam Younger.

Alienation warning

Campaign organisation Votes at 16 warned that the decision was sending a message to young people that "their views do not count".

Describing the failure to lower the voting age as a "kick in the teeth", it warned that increased alienation among young people was likely to be the result.

"This report is the establishment telling young people that their views do not count. We can only expect young people to become further alienated from politics," said campaign manager Alex Folkes.

"We hope that the government chooses to ignore this report just as they have ignored previous reports from the Electoral Commission - a body which is proving itself out of touch with the needs of this country."

But, responding for the Conservatives, Charles Hendry gave a warm welcome to the report.

"It has been the most thorough investigation on this issue for many years; we are particularly pleased that the findings are exactly in line with the submission that the Conservative Party made," he said.

"Opening the door to younger elected representatives – such as 18 year old councillors – will do far more to re-engage young people in politics and create a new tier of representatives who can champion the issues that young people are concerned with."

MP doubts

The report came as a poll found that 56 per cent of MPs were against reducing the voting age to 16, although on the Labour benches the figure stood at a slightly lower 50 per cent.

In contrast, 43 per cent expressed their support for a reduction to 16 and eight per cent backed a switch to 17.

There was greater support among MPs for the lower candidacy age - a move that would allow teenagers to stand for parliament.

The poll, conducted by CommunicateResearch, found that half of MPs backed such a move.

However 45 per cent were against while another five per cent said they wanted the age reduced to 16.