Stand up for voting rights
On Nov. 26, voters will be asked to cast their ballots for various candidates in the nine-in-one elections, as well as, more importantly, in a referendum.
Earlier this year, with 109 legislators present at a meeting presided over by Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?), the Legislative Yuan voted unanimously in favor of a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age to 18. Two Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators, Lee Gui-min (李貴敏) and Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文), and independent Legislator May Chin (高金素梅) were absent. The amendment cannot pass unless more than 9.65 million voters cast ballots in its favor in the coming referendum.
The election is only two months away, and yet, so far, only some Democratic Progressive Party candidates have highlighted the referendum. Other political parties and politicians have hardly touched upon this issue. Although the constitutional amendment is on the verge of success, it might still be defeated in the referendum.
More than 100 countries in the world have set 18 as the age of majority. Most of these are civilized, advanced countries, and Taiwan is comparable in terms of development. We have no reason to deny our young people the right to participate in political affairs.
Besides, it was legislators themselves who voted in favor of this constitutional amendment. Are they not the politicians who repeatedly claim that they value our citizens’ political rights more than anything else? Is this once again a game of bluff? Are they unafraid of being exposed?
Political parties and politicians sometimes appear in disguise. Young voters must see through them, and boycott their election campaigns and oppose candidates who do not follow through on their earlier support for lowering the age of majority to 18. Young Taiwanese must vote, and fight for their rights.
Wang Yu-mei
Yunlin County
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