Assembly members have heard calls for 16 and 17-year olds to be allowed to vote in elections.
The north is the only devolved nation in the UK were 16-17 year-olds cannot vote.
Scotland made the transition in 2015 with Wales following suit a few years later.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also said people old enough to work should be allowed to vote and confirmed a Labour government would seek to extend the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds.
The issue was raised in the Assembly on Monday, which was also International Democracy Day.
Alliance member Kellie Armstrong said her party is “unwavering in its support” amidst “a stark democratic deficit in Northern Ireland – the disenfranchisement of young people”.
She highlighted how 16 year olds can already legally seek employment, pay taxes and get married.
Ms Armstrong said she hoped reducing the voting age would grant “many intelligent, capable and engaged young people with fully formed social and political views the opportunity to have their voices heard on the issues that matter to them”.
“Providing this opportunity earlier in life will only encourage good habits when it comes to participating in the political process throughout the rest of peoples’ lives,” she added.
Meanwhile, a grassroots, youth-led campaign on the same issue will be launched this week, supported by Politics in Action (PiA).
The Vote at 16 event will take place at Queen’s University Belfast on Friday September 13.
Around 250 guests are expected to attend including politicians, education authorities and young people who will share personal experiences.
PiA said “with a new UK government in place and the NI Executive restored, now is the time to build trust and participation in politics with young people”.
“Reducing the voting age would send a clear signal that politicians care about our future and that our voice matters.”
Ellie McIlhatton from PiA underlined that 80% of the north’s main political parties are in favour of this movement.