The Free Church of Scotland has urged a body examining future powers for Holyrood to lower the voting age to 16 for all elections.
The denomination made the suggestion to the Smith Commission because it was “puzzling” that people of that age could get married but were unable to participate in general elections.
The voting age for the independence referendum last month was lowered to 16 and record numbers of young people took part.
Free Church board of trustees chairman and former principal of the University of the Highlands and the Islands, James Fraser said it welcomed the fact that people across the whole age spectrum took part in the referendum.
“We find it puzzling that as a nation we are prepared to let young people marry at the age of 16 with the profound implications that such a step has, and yet we are hesitant about giving them the opportunity to vote,” he added.
“We believe that an interesting by-product of the referendum debate is to consider making this change in the voting age a permanent feature of politics in Scotland, and, dare we say it, in the rest of the UK.
“It would go a considerable way to maintaining the momentum of the political debate and ensuring that young people at an early age are given the opportunity to value and participate in democratic politics.”
The Free Church of Scotland says it has seen a significant increase in the number of 16-30s attending services over the past six years.
A think tank called Dpart published a report last week which concluded that the voting age in all elections should be extended to 16 and 17-year-olds.
It carried out research that found making the change could increase youngster’s engagement with politics – a view also shared by the Scottish Youth Parliament.