Support for Const. Amdment to Lower Voting Age to 18 Approved 立院通過「18歲公民權修憲案」 交公民複決

Taiwan lawmakers have voted unanimously to lower the voting age from 20 to 18. The question of lowering the voting and candidacy age will now go to a popular referendum, which is likely to take place at the end of this year.

Lawmakers wearing high school uniforms show their support for lowering the voting age to 18. Lawmakers voted on the constitutional amendment on the 25th, calling for support across the board from all parties.

Wang Wan-yu, Legislator (NPP): “The voting age must be lowered to 18 so that civil rights can correspond (to the population). I also hope Taiwan can continue amending the constitution. ”

Chiu Chen-yuan, Legislator (TPP): “We also call on all parties to return to rationalism and pragmatism and to give young people their rights back. ”

Under constitutional amendment regulations, three-fourths or 85 legislators had to be in attendance during discussions and three-fourths of the 85 or 64 had to vote in favor. The Democratic Progressive Party holds 61 seats and two other seats are held by green-leaning opposition lawmakers, and the amendment could not be passed if Kuomintang lawmakers did not show up. Before the vote, DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming demanded that pan-blue lawmakers not be "constitutional amendment deserters."

Tseng Ming-chung, KMT Caucus Whip: “After a great deal of discussion and evaluation, the Kuomintang will vote in favor of lowering the voting age to 18.”

Ker Chien-ming, DPP Caucus Whip: “Don't say we support lowering the voting age to 18. And then, but don't tie in other cases. This is our final call to the KMT. I also welcome everyone to finish amending the constitution together.”

KMT caucus whip Tseng Ming-chung said after deliberations ended that the party supports lowering the voting age despite sentiments that the DPP wants to lower the age for its own selfish purposes. With the proposal to lower the voting age to 18 passed, there will now be a six-month advisory period before a referendum is held. This is the seventh constitutional amendment to make it out of the legislature since 2005.
 

跨黨派立委們特地穿上高中制服來支持，18歲公民權修憲案，25日在立法院要進行投票表決。民進黨、民眾黨、時代力量都支持，呼籲朝野投下同意票，讓18歲公民權入憲。

時代力量立委王婉諭說：「認為18歲公民權必須要下修，讓公民的權利是能夠全面相符的，也希望台灣能夠持續朝著修憲的腳步邁進。」

民眾黨立委邱臣遠表示：「我們也呼籲朝野各黨，都要回歸理性務實，要回應我們廣大的民意，要還權於青年。」

根據憲法增修條文規定，立法院要提出憲法修正案，院會討論時需立委總額四分之三出席，也就是85位立委，出席立委四分之三64位同意。民進黨團有61席加上兩個在野黨支持，但如果國民黨團沒有出席，就無法通過，民進黨團總召柯建銘就向藍營喊話別當修憲逃兵。

國民黨團總召曾銘宗回應：「今天透過充分討論、審慎評估之後，等一下進場會投同意票，國民黨支持18歲公民權入憲。」

民進黨團總召柯建銘強調：「不要說我們支持18歲公民權，還有但是，不要把其他案子再夾進來，這是對國民黨最後的呼籲，我也歡迎大家一起完成修憲的工程。」

國民黨團經過超過一個半小時的會議討論，決定支持18歲公民權。曾銘宗表示，雖然有成員質疑民進黨修憲是為了一黨之私，但審慎評估後支持。

18歲公民權修憲案可望順利送出立法院，公告半年後交付公民複決。這也是自 2005年通過第七次，也是距今最後一次修憲後，再度有修憲案成案。