The Central Election Commiss-ion (CEC) plans to forward its draft redistricting proposal for next year's legislative elections to the Legislative Yuan for passage before the end of next month as scheduled, a commission spokes-man said yesterday.
Teng Tien-you (鄧天佑) made the remarks while commenting on news reports that several lawmakers were preparing to submit a constitutional revision proposal to the Legislative Yuan next month to seek an increase in the number of legislative seats from 113 to 164, a change in the electoral system to multiple seats per constituency and the adoption of a parliamentary system.
Seats halved
A constitutional reform package passed last June stipulated that starting from the seventh legislature -- which is to be elected late next year -- the total number of seats will be halved from 225 to 113, and the electoral system for legislators would be changed into a "single-seat constituency, two votes" format -- that is, one vote for candidates, and the other for political parties.
Based on the reforms, the commission worked out the redistricting proposal months ago. The proposal states that of the country's 25 counties and cities, 10 will have one seat each, while the others will be redistricted in proportion to population size.
Four-year terms
A total of 73 seats will be elected from regional districts, while six seats are reserved for Aboriginal representatives and 34 seats for legislator at-large and overseas representatives.
Legislators would serve four-year terms rather than the current three-year terms, according to the revised Constitution.
Teng said the commission would not adjust its proposal, despite a new proposal from certain lawmakers.
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