TAIPEI (Taiwan News) —  Amendments to change population requirements for electing local councilors passed a third reading in the legislature on Tuesday (July 16).

The amendments to the Local Government Act will mean certain areas with declining populations will not lose councilors, and some Indigenous populations will be able to elect more representatives, per CNA. The change received cross party support from legislators who said it will ensure citizens have adequate representation.

Legislators cited the case of Pingtung County, where the population fell below 800,000 at the end of 2023. Under the current regulations, areas with between 400,000 and 800,000 people may elect 43 councilors maximum, whereas areas with between 800,000 and 1.6 million people can elect up to 57.

The amendment will reduce the population threshold for electing 57 councilors from 800,000 to 700,000. This means Pingtung will not lose 12 of its current 55 representatives, as it would under the current law. 

The amendment was proposed by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator for Pingtung Hsu Fu-kuei (徐富癸). Hsu noted that there are 20 townships, as well as Indigenous and outlying island districts within Pingtung County. 

He said that if the number of councilors is reduced, it will be difficult to reach all of the county’s people.

Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Sra Kacaw (鄭天財) also expressed support for the amendments. He said the amendment will ensure that the number of councilors will not decrease with Taiwan's declining birthrate.

The amendments will also establish a quota for electing Indigenous councilors in lowland electorates where there are more than 1,500 Indigenous people. Currently, Indigenous councilors and those for the general population are grouped together under the same population ratio limits.

They will also allow highland Indigenous people to elect councilors using the same quota system, and allow highland Indigenous townships to elect representatives regardless of population.

The Ministry of the Interior said this will mean Changhua County, Keelung City, Hsinchu City, and Yunlin County will add one more highland Indigenous councilor each in the next election, per SET News.

Independent Legislator Ciwas Ali (高金素梅) said that proposals to increase the number of Indigenous legislators have existed for more than 20 years, and congratulated the areas that will gain representation.