Optional voting for 16- and 17-year-olds at elections would be the first step to rolling out non-compulsory voting measures for everyone at state and federal polls, a senate inquiry has heard.
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Speaking last week before the inquiry into lowering the voting age to 16, federal Young Liberal president Josh Manuatu came out against the proposal.
He said if legislation was introduced making it optional for 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, it would create two classes of voters.
"We would argue, though, that the rule should be voluntary voting across the board, as opposed to being for one cohort under the age of 18," Mr Manuatu said.
"It does make eminent sense for the Electoral Act to apply equally across the full cohort of people who can vote."
The Young Liberals have advocated for voluntary voting since making it an official policy position in 2005, however its president admitted there wasn't much scope for change on that front.
The organisation was the only youth branch of a major political party to make a submission to the inquiry, and its submission was one of two against lowering the voting age, the other being from the Australian Christian Lobby.
"In terms of the voting age, we respectfully say that we believe the age of majority is rightly set at the age of 18," Mr Manuatu said.
"Given it's very difficult to settle on a place where people suddenly become politically active or politically engaged, we think the best place for that age to stay at in terms of voting is age 18."
Despite the opposition by the Young Liberals to lowering the age of voting to 16, 16-year-olds remain eligible to join the organisation.
While 16- and 17-year-olds make up six per cent of its membership, members under 18 are able to run for office-bearing positions and vote on procedural motions.
Mr Manuatu said only a small number of those under 18 take part in the organisation.
"The Young Liberal movement is effectively an opt-in organisation where people join the movement. Not everyone is required to join," he said.
"Only about six per cent are under the age of 18. Of that, those who come along and are active contributors would be a relatively small amount."
The inquiry, set up by Greens senator Jordon Steele-John, was dismissed by the Young Liberals in their submission as an ill-designed attempt for the Greens to increase their vote share.
When questioned about the submission, Mr Manuatu said the motive behind the inquiry should be examined.
"If you are trying to change the law on the basis of trying to increase or decrease a vote share I think that is a bad motivator for changing the law," he said.
A final report into whether the voting age should be lowered is expected to be handed to the parliament by December.
