The next general election must allow votes at 16

Some suggested it was a political (or partisan) move. Others suggested it was pointless because young people were largely politically disengaged. In fact, 90.1 per cent of 16- and 17-year-olds (109,000) registered to vote, according to the Electoral Commission. Given the exceptionally high turnout (84 per cent), political disengagement among young people should no longer be a concern. The genie is out of the bottle. Many of us in Scotland need no convincing that they should have the vote in all elections.

Louise Cameron, chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, spoke for many when she was reported as saying: "If you can take any sort of celebration from the referendum, it has definitely been the fact we have had such high engagement among young people. We have spoken to thousands of young people and we have found that when you engage them in the right terms, when you make it about issue-based politics rather than party-based politics, they are much more likely to be engaged."

First Minister Alex Salmond stated there was now an "overwhelming, unanswerable" case for allowing young people in the UK to vote and that they had shown themselves to be "serious, passionate and committed citizens". It isn't just here in Scotland. Others have added their voice.

Journalist Janet Street-Porter, writing in the Daily Mail, called for a bill to be rushed through the UK parliament, arguing that even though 16- and 17-year-olds constitute only three per cent of the electorate, their contribution in the Scottish referendum was highly symbolic, and they had "shown the rest of the UK that the way to reinvigorate our moribund political system is to get the next generation involved".

Lowering the voting age

The debate on lowering the voting age to 16 - affecting 1.5 million young people across the UK - has been long-standing. The success of the Scottish referendum poses the question as to whether 16- and 17-year-olds should have their voices heard at the ballot box in next year's UK general election.

Research has shown that if young people vote early, they may continue to vote throughout their lives, resulting in improved voter turnout for all and stronger democratic institutions. This tangible symbol of their rights would make theoretical discussions about elections, parliaments and political parties infinitely more meaningful. They could be exercising their right to vote before they leave school instead of having to wait for up to five years, by which time many will have lost interest.

During the referendum campaign, the quality of young people's ideas and the passion with which they expressed their views showed how informed and articulate many young people are about the kind of society in which they would like to live.

Hannah, a volunteer youth worker in Edinburgh, said: "Voting made me feel more mature like people cared about what I had to say." Neil, a pupil addressing an award ceremony in Linlithgow, stated: "We are confident that the future will be safe in the hands of our generation and that 16- and 17-year-olds should be fully enfranchised."

Extending the franchise to our 16- and 17-year-olds links directly to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which concerns the child's right to have an opinion, to express that opinion, and for due weight be given to that opinion, particularly in decisions that affect their lives.

The choices made by governments have a major impact on young people: they are some of the biggest recipients of public services.

We should now build on the example of the Scottish referendum to affirm our respect for young people's rights and ensure that 16- and 17-year-olds can have their say in all future polls in the UK.

Tam Baillie is children's commissioner for Scotland