Biggest electoral reform in 70 years! Japan lowers voting age to 18 from 20

Tokyo, June 17: In a major move ahead of the elections, Japanese parliament approved a new legislation to reduce the voting age to 18 from current 20.

The move has been termed as the biggest reform of the Japan's election system in 70 years. It will encourage political participation by younger voters in the country.

The bill was unanimously passed by the House of Councillors after winning approval in the House of Representatives on June 4.

The voting age was last lowered from 25 to 20 in 1945, Kyodo News reported.

Some 2.4 million people aged 18 and 19 will join the electorate.

The change is likely to be implemented to an upper house election scheduled for the summer of 2016, unless the more powerful lower house is dissolved for a snap election.

OneIndia News