Taiwan’s election battle: Parties scramble for youth vote

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — With Taiwan's national election approaching in less than three weeks, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Kuomintang (KMT), and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) have turned their attention to the 20 to 29-year-old voter demographic, a group pivotal in deciding election outcomes.

Radio host and pundit Huang Yang-ming observed that although all parties are vying for the youth vote, they struggle to consistently win their support.

"In the traditional KMT-DPP structure, young people often backed the opposition or frequently changed allegiances, lacking a steady party preference," Huang noted.

The TVBS poll from Dec. 15 to 21 indicates a strong leaning toward the TPP among young voters, with Ko Wen-je and Cynthia Wu receiving over half of the youth vote. The DPP's Lai Ching-te and running mate Hsiao Bi-khim have garnered 24% of this demographic's support, while the KMT's Hou Yu-ih and Jaw Shaw-kong lag with 13%.

Candidates are engaging with young voters through Internet shows, active social media presence, and university interactions, aiming to penetrate their echo chambers.

The significance of the youth vote is underscored by the 2020 presidential election, where two million of President Tsai Ing-wen's 8.17 million votes came from young and swing voters, highlighting their crucial role in the 2024 elections.