Twenty high-school and college students yesterday painted a wall in Taipei pink and orange to represent the passion of youth, and show the public that young people are ready to fight for their future and take on the responsibility of voting at 18.
The event, organized by the Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy, also highlighted the establishment of a base dubbed the “Forward Base for Constitutional Amendment.”
The group borrowed part of independent Taipei City councilor candidate Wu Cheng’s (吳崢) campaign office for the base, association secretary-general Chang Yu-meng (張育萌) said.
Photo: CNA
A referendum on a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at lowering the voting age from 20 to 18 is to be held in conjunction with the local elections on Nov. 26.
Wu, who attended the event, supports lowering the voting age and has even put up billboards to draw attention to the issue, Chang said.
Young people across the nation have also held events at train stations and traditional markets to reach older people, Chang added.
Wu said he hopes students use the base for forums and events that would call more attention to the referendum.
Amending the Constitution to allow younger people the right to participate in politics would show that the government trusts them, Wu said, adding that it would affect Taiwan greatly in the decades to come.
Soochow University student Yang Tzu-ying (楊資潁) said efforts are being made around the world to allow 18-year-olds to participate in politics.
Yang said that she has been participating in public affairs since junior-high school, but was denied the right vote at 18, adding that not allowing 18-year-olds to vote is the equivalent of overlooking their opinions.
Former Chiayi Student Association convener Su Yi-jung (蘇翊榮) said that 18-year-olds can be charged as adults under the law, so they should be able to make choices on critical national matters, yet they are not able to vote to determine who should be in power.
Taitung Student Association consultant Chiu Yu-ting (邱毓庭) said that Taiwan is becoming a hyper-aged society, and despite claims that the “youth is the future,” they are not given equal rights.
“We cannot choose what age we are born into, but we can choose to make changes,” Vocational Students Rights Association for Taipei and New Taipei City member Hsieh Kun-yen (謝昆諺) said.
Taiwan is the only democratic nation that does not allow 18-year-olds to vote, and voting to pass the referendum would ensure the country keeps up with international trends, Chang said.
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