Electors could be allowed to cast their votes though the letter box instead of the ballot box to boost turnout at council elections.

Brighton and Hove City Council wants to hold a postal ballot next May in a bid to engage more people, especially younger voters, in the political process.

The referendum on whether there should be a directly-elected mayor was held last year on a postal ballot and had a higher turnout than many expected.

Labour council leader Ken Bodfish said: "We want to revitalise people's interest in local government and get more to take part in selecting their council.

"To achieve that we need to offer voters modern, more convenient and accessible ways of casting their votes."

Coun Bodfish said young people in particular seemed reluctant to vote and added postal voting would help if the traditional way put them off.

He said many old and disabled people had difficulty in getting to polling stations.

The cost of postal voting would be about the same as traditional voting but an advantage would be no schools would have to close for the day.

A national survey earlier this year showed most people approved of postal voting.

Coun Bodfish said: "Weather will not be an issue. Parties will no longer have to worry about getting voters out on a wet Thursday."

The council hopes to submit an application to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott by the end of November.

If agreed, a pilot scheme will be run for the 2003 elections, which will also have new wards.

The Government will announce in December which councils have been approved for pilot voting schemes.

Coun Bodfish said: "We hope all local political parties will support us in this application to increase voter participation.

"I am personally calling on them to support this initiative fully."

Tory opposition group leader Brian Oxley said he was worried about the possibility of fraud.

He said the initiative was yet another example of the council wanting to be first without working out all the ramifications.

Liberal Democrat group leader Paul Elgood said: "Anything that increases voter turnout and increases participation has to be encouraged but clear safeguards must be built in to stop corruption.

"I would be very concerned about ballot mailings being left in the hallways of large multiple occupancy dwellings.

"Postal voting would benefit groups which research shows traditionally have not had such good turnouts such as younger people and the lesbian and gay community."

Green Party convenor Keith Taylor said: "We are concerned about the fraud aspect, and also it will cost money at a time when we cannot afford it.

"We need to increase voter participation and postal ballots help but this pilot scheme is not the answer."