Councillor Michael A. Sullivan added that student activism in 1996 kept the council from making large cuts in the CRLS budget.

"The idea that voting defines political activism is something I strongly disagree with," said Cambridge citizen Robert Winters.

While the students said they agree there are ways to get involved, they maintained that voting is the best way to have a real impact on the political system.

"Until we have power to make real decisions, we'll just be a bunch of children whining, and jumping up and down and complaining," said CRLS student Max G.C. Prum.

Members of the Cambridge Election Commission also attended yesterday's meeting. While they have not taken a position on the issue, the members brought up the feasibility of implementing the lower voting age, discussing how registration would be implemented and whether separate voting lists and ballots would have to be created for students only voting in Cambridge elections.

"The devil's in the details on how this would work," said Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves `72.

At the end of yesterday's discussion, the committee decided to refer the matter back to the entire council in coming weeks for a vote. In order to approve the measure, the majority of the council will have to pass a home rule petition that would then have to be approved by the Massachusetts state legislature.