TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced on Tuesday that 9.61 million votes will be needed for the proposed constitutional amendment to lower the voting age in Taiwan from 20 to 18 years old to pass.
The proposed constitutional amendment to lower the voting age in Taiwan to 18 years old will be one of the highlights of this year's 9-in-1 elections.
While Taiwan's major political parties support the proposal, it is still possible for it to fail, as it will require the support of a majority of the electorate.
According to the constitution, a proposed constitutional amendment requires over half of all eligible voters to cast a ballot in favor of the amendment in order to pass, which would be around 9.61 million votes this year.
If the proposal is passed, young Taiwanese will not only have the right to vote in future elections and referendums starting at the age of 18, they will also be able to be elected to legislative bodies.
As of now, Taiwan is the only Asian democracy where 18-year-olds cannot vote.
Voices in support of the amendment say the current policies limit the younger generation's participation in politics, which makes it difficult for their voices to be heard.
While opponents say, 18 and 19 year olds are too young to be able to form a strong stance and judgment on how Taiwan's affairs should be handled.
According to statistics released by the Central Election Committee, there were 19,102,502 voters in the 2018 local elections. Four years later, there are 18,967,771 voters, a decrease of 134,731 people.
