Voters across Taiwan started casting ballots on Saturday in the historic Great Recall vote. This large-scale recall targets 24 lawmakers from the Kuomintang (KMT) party. It marks the biggest mass recall campaign ever seen in Taiwan’s history. All the lawmakers facing recall won their seats during last year’s general election.
The recall campaigns span nearly one-third of all legislative districts. Most of these districts lie in northern and urban areas, where political tensions have run high. The move reflects growing dissatisfaction among voters in those regions.
If voters successfully recall more than six lawmakers in this Great Recall vote, it would change the current power balance in the Legislative Yuan. Right now, the KMT-led opposition holds a narrow majority. However, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) could regain full control of the legislature if enough lawmakers lose their seats. This shift could impact Taiwan’s political direction for years to come.
The districts targeted include five seats each in Taipei and New Taipei, six in Taoyuan, three in Taichung, and one each in Keelung, Hsinchu City, Yunlin, Hualien, and Taitung. These areas represent a mix of urban and rural communities, all involved in this unprecedented recall effort.
Voting takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To participate, voters must be Taiwanese nationals aged 20 or older. They must also have registered to vote in their district for at least four months before the recall vote. The recall process follows strict rules outlined in the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act.
For the recall to succeed, voters must meet two requirements. First, the number of votes in favor must exceed votes against. Second, the total number of affirmative votes must reach at least one-quarter of all registered voters in the district. These conditions ensure that recalls reflect a significant level of voter support.
The Central Election Commission will announce the results within seven days. If the recall passes, the lawmaker immediately loses their seat. Then, a by-election must occur within three months to fill the vacancy. If a legal challenge follows, officials will leave the seat vacant until the court rules on the case.
On the other hand, if the recall effort fails, voters cannot initiate another recall against the same legislator during that term. This Great Recall vote has captured national attention. Many see it as a crucial test of Taiwan’s democratic process. Citizens and politicians alike watch closely as this unique exercise of voter power unfolds.
