Info
Boundary Delimitation
BD001
Delimitation of constituencies
Question: Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/14
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
b . Directly elected in general elections (simple majority)
Comments: Election and recall of President and Vice President shall be implemented by way of common, fair, direct and secret vote, unless otherwise prescribed.
Source: Article 2, The Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China
also Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Law
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Taiwan_2005.pdf
Verified: 2020/04/13
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
e . Appointed
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: The President shall be the Chief of State and shall represent the Republic of China in foreign relations.
Source: Articles 35, Constitution of the Republic of China
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Taiwan_2005.pdf
Verified: 2020/04/13
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
a . One chamber
Comments: The Legislative Yuan shall be the highest legislative organ of the State. It shall be composed of Members elected by the people and shall exercise legislative power on their behalf.
Source: Article 62, Constitution of the Republic of China
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Taiwan_2005.pdf
Verified: 2020/04/13
Legislative Framework
LF001
Status of Electoral Law
Question: What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):
a . Part of Constitution b . Separate legislation
Comments:
Source: The Constitution of the Republic of China - https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Taiwan_2005.pdf
Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act
Civil Servants Election And Recall Act
The Organic Law of the Central Election Commission
Verified: 2020/04/13
LF003
Electoral Law covers
Question: The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):
a . National elections d . Referendums
Comments:
Source: Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act - https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0020053
The Public Officials Election And Recall Act
The Referendum Act - https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0020050
Verified: 2020/04/13
LF004
Compulsory/voluntary voting
Question: Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):
a . Voting is voluntary
Comments:
Source: Central Election Commission
https://www.cec.gov.tw/english/cms/cecenes
Verified: 2020/04/13
Electoral Management
EM006
Term of EMB members
Question: The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:
b . For a specified number of years
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
EM012
Electoral Management model
Question: What is the Electoral Management model?
Answer:
b . Independent
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
EM013
Number of EMB members
Question: The EMB is composed of:
Answer:
b . 11 - 20 members (specify)
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
EM014
Membership based on
Question: The EMB members/commissioners are selected on the basis of their:
Answer:
c . Combination of partisanship and expertise
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
Voter Education
VE002
Frequency of voter education programs
Question: At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:
b . Election time only
Comments: The Central Election Commission shall deal with the following affairs:
1. Issuance of public notice for election or recall.
2. Proceeding and planning of election and recall affairs.
3. The candidates' applications for registration.
4. Examination of the candidates' qualifications.
5. Planning for propaganda of election.
6. Organization of the candidates' TV politics presentation.
7. Supervision of election and recall.
8. Examination and approval of election and recall results.
9. Fabrication and issuance of electee's certificates.
10. Subsidization of campaign funds for the candidates.
11. Other matters related to election and recall.
Source: Article 7, Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act -https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0020053
Verified: 2020/04/13
Voter Registration
VR001
Voting age
Question: What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:
e . 20
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
VR004
Authority responsible for voter registration
Question: Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:
c . Local Government Authority
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
VR008
Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Question: Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:
b . No
Comments: With the exception of citizens residing overseas during Presidential and Vice Presidential elections, citizens do not have to register to vote.
Source: Central Election Commission
https://www.cec.gov.tw/english/cms/ctw
Verified: 2020/04/13
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Signature requirement (specify requirement) b . Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments: The candidates for President and Vice President shall prepare the forms set forth by the Central Election Commission and the deposit to apply for registration with the Commission in conjunction. If the application is not filed for registration in conjunction, or the forms or the deposit does not meet the relevant provisions, and the application is not filed within the specified time limit, it will not be accepted.
The candidates referred to in the preceding Paragraph shall be recommended by their political party or by the means of joint signature of the signers.
If it is found through examination that one or both of the candidates for President and Vice President of a same group does not meet the qualification requirements, the group of the candidates shall not be registered.
Source: Article 21 Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act
https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0020053
Verified: 2020/04/13
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct c . Indirect
Comments: The State finances public forums, political advertising and free broadcast time on television, election bulletins, campaign expenditure subsidies and tax exemptions.
Source: Official Website of the Central Election Commission
Verified: 2020/04/13
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
Vote Counting
VC004
Votes are sorted/counted at
Question: Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:
a . The polling stations
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
Media and Elections
ME037
Criteria for allocating free broadcast time
Question: What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):
a . Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance
Comments: In the nationwide and overseas legistators part of the Legislative Yuan election, the candidates political party can submit advertisement campaign videos to the CEC. After review, the CEC will purchase advertisement time slots, equally allocating time to each political party.
Source: Official Website of the Central Election Commission: http://engweb.cec.gov.tw/files/11-1030-3861.php (2012);
International Committee for Fair Elections in Taiwan, Report on the National Election in Taiwan, January 14, 2012: http://www.taiwanelections.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Taiwan-2012-Elections-IEOM-Final-Report.pdf (2012)
Verified: 2020/04/13
ME059
Television debates
Question: Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):
a . Yes, in presidential elections b . Yes, in legislative elections
Comments: For the election of President and Vice President, the Central Election Commission shall provide the candidates with hours to express their politics through national wireless TV channel at public expenses, and each group of candidates shall have not less than 30 minutes every time, and the designated TV stations may not refuse. The operating regulations shall be prescribed by the Central Election Commission.
With the consent of two or more groups of candidates, an individual or association may hold a national wireless TV debate; the TV station shall undertake such debate and may apply to the Central Election Commission for subsidy. Regulations governing the subsidy shall be prescribed by the Central Election Commission.
The TV debate for President referred to in the preceding Paragraph may be held up to three times, and every time each candidate has up to 30 minutes. The TV debate for Vice President may be held similarly, but shall be held only once.
The candidates shall be responsible for the contents of the politics or debate referred to in Paragraphs One and Two by themselves.
Source: International Committee for Fair Elections in Taiwan, Report on the National Election in Taiwan, January 14, 2012: http://www.taiwanelections.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Taiwan-2012-Elections-IEOM-Final-Report.pdf (2012)
Article 45 Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act
https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0020053
Verified: 2020/04/13
ME062
Blackout period for release of opinion poll results.
Question: What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:
f . 10 or more days
Comments: During the period from 10 days before the polling day to the deadline for voting, any political party or person may not, by any means, issue any investigation questionnaire on the candidates or the public opinion about the election, and also may not report, diffuse, review or cite it.
Source: Article 52, Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act
https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0020053
Verified: 2020/04/13
ME080
Question: Is there a maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: The maximum of campaign fund of a same group of candidates shall be prescribed by the Central Election Commission, and publicized on the same day when the public notice for election is issued.
The maximum of campaign fund referred to in the preceding Paragraph shall be the sum of the product of 70% of the total population in the free regions of the ROC multiplied by the basic amount of NT$20 plus NT$100,000,000.
If the maximum of campaign fund has a mantissa of less than NT$1000, it shall be rounded to NT$1000 by transfer method.
The total population in the free regions of the ROC referred to in Paragraph Two refers to the total population counted up in household statistics at the end of the sixth month before the month of polling.
Source: Article 38, Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act
https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0020053
Verified: 2020/04/13
Direct Democracy
DD004
Optional referendums (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
DD006
Agenda Initiatives (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
DD007
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
DD129
Question: Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:
a . Always binding
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
DD130
Question: Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:
c . Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source: Article 17, 123, 133, 136 and 174, Constitution
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Taiwan_2005.pdf
Verified: 2020/04/13
DD131
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:
c . No information available
Comments:
Source:
Verified: 2020/04/13
Voting Operations
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