Ma said absentee voting is a necessity in a democratic country,
though he suggested that it would be implemented gradually and that
the extent of the measure would be open to discussion.
"It is something that must be done, " to protect the human rights
of the country's citizens enshrined in the Constitution, the
president said at a seminar held by the governing Kuomintang (KMT).
The idea should not be ignored simply because there is a lack of
consensus, insisted Ma, who doubles as the KMT's chairman.
Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah said the ministry has adopted a
"more stable, fair" approach on absentee voting and intends to
implement it gradually.
The government's plan would allow "transfer voting, " enabling
election workers, military personnel, students and inmates to cast
ballots in constituencies in which they are working, studying or
serving sentences instead of in the electoral districts where their
households are registered.
The ministry hopes to implement the proposal for the 2012
presidential election, Jiang said.
At present, Taiwan's voters must cast ballots in areas where
their households are registered, but because many of them do not work
or reside in the electoral districts where they are registered, they
have to return to their registered addresses to vote.
Jiang stressed, however, that absentee voting by mail will not be
allowed, meaning Taiwanese businessmen in China and other citizens
living abroad would still be required to return home to cast their
ballots.
(By Chou Yung-chieh and Lilian Wu)
Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium
Information Division
40, Regentlaan / Boulevard du Régent - 1000 Brussels
Tel. 02/517.17.23 - Fax 02/517.17.25
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