The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to lower the minimum voting age to 18 from 20, paving the way for the first change in the country's voting age in 70 years.

With the change, some 2.4 million 18- and 19-year-olds will get their first chance to vote in next year's House of Councilors election.

The revision to the Public Offices Election Law is expected to be enacted as early as June 17, after deliberations in the Upper House.