Xie Yifeng, a legislator of the Kuomintang, pointed out that the Kuomintang supports 18-year-old citizenship, but originally hoped to push for a constitutional revision in 2024. The DPP's push at this time may have "other plans."

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[Reporter Wu Shuwei/Taipei Report] The Central Election Committee held the fourth public referendum meeting on the "18-year-old citizenship" constitutional amendment, with KMT legislator Xie Yifeng as the official representative.

Xie Yifeng pointed out that the Kuomintang supports 18-year-old citizenship, but originally hoped to promote constitutional revision in 2024. The DPP's push at this time may have "other plans", hoping to highlight that the threshold for constitutional revision is too high and its real purpose It is lowering the threshold for constitutional revision, not really wanting to lower the age of citizenship, and expanding political participation can also start with promoting absentee voting.

Xie Yifeng pointed out that the 18-year-old referendum on constitutional amendments is an opportunity for the people of Taiwan to demonstrate a high degree of democratic literacy. When Japan and South Korea have lowered the age of election and election, "we are still stuck at 70 years. The previous regulations are obviously outdated," emphasizing that the KMT fully supports the lowering of the voting age.

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However, Xie Yifeng changed the subject and said that the Kuomintang also supports the revision of the age of citizenship. The Kuomintang is different from other political parties; The review of the constitution is a better time. The DPP is trying to force it now, maybe because it has "other plans", hoping to highlight that the threshold for constitutional revision is too high. The real purpose is to lower the threshold for constitutional revision. Not really trying to lower the age of citizenship and expand political participation.

Xie Yifeng mentioned, "Although we agree with the content of the constitutional amendment review", to be honest, we are pessimistic about the results, because the turnout rate in local elections is relatively low, and past statistics show such results , It didn’t just happen today. In addition, the interference of the epidemic will reduce or limit the willingness of many citizens to go out to vote. Once it is agreed to submit to referendum, the only way is to go all out and show the determination of democracy.

Xie Yifeng said that the way to expand political participation is not only to amend the constitution and lower the voting age, but also to vote without citizenship. "If you are really worried about the fairness of overseas regions or mainland regions," you can start from Taiwan. It is also possible to start with the presidential election where the election is relatively simple, or the legislative election, but it is definitely not like the current situation, where nothing is done and nothing is done. It is necessary to gradually accumulate experience and gradually expand to All elections.

Xie Yifeng mentioned that lowering the voting age is not only to allow young people to participate in public affairs, it is essentially to expand political participation, so that the formation of the government and the operation of the parliament are more democratic, rather than a few people can decide.

Xie Yifeng said that voting must go back to the relevant regulations of the place of residence, which makes voting also have a gap in economic class. Voting has become a threshold. If you live in your place of residence and have relatively good financial ability, you don’t have to worry about work or travel to other places. Those who go to study or work have a lower threshold for participating in politics, which has become a hidden unfairness. Non-registered voting can lower the economic threshold for voting, so that more people can participate in public affairs, and more opinions can be expressed. Incorporated into the government decision-making system, so that more public opinions can be presented.

However, Xie Yifeng said that the current DPP government has been unwilling and has not promoted non-representative voting. Deliberated, but did not make any effort, so in the end, we had to push the revision of citizenship rights to 18 years old, and on the other hand, restricted the citizenship rights of those diagnosed, and did not actively find a way. The importance of civil rights.

Finally, Xie Yifeng called on all political parties to make concerted efforts to promote and mobilize the revision of the constitution, not to fight match-fixing, and to expand political participation and young people’s participation in public affairs. We can also work together to promote the absentee voting law, so that people who study and work in other places can express their political positions at the lowest cost, so that everyone can pay more attention to public affairs.