Premier Jiang Yi-huah today enjoined the Central Election Commission (CEC) to ensure all local election commissions adhere to the principles of justice, fairness and transparency in order to facilitate the smooth and peaceful completion of the local elections on November 29, the largest ever held in Taiwan.
This is the first time since the amendments of the Local Government Act that Taiwan has held a "nine-in-one" election, in which citizens vote on nine categories of public functionaries in the same day, the premier noted. The elections are therefore critical to the nation's development of political democracy and local self-governance. He enjoined the CEC to thoroughly prepare all election-related affairs.
The premier made these remarks at today's Cabinet meeting after reports by the CEC on its preparations, by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) on its monitoring and investigations of election-related illegalities, and by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) on its public order maintenance measures during the election period.
The legal campaign period will commence tomorrow (the 14th). The MOJ and MOI should thus oversee local prosecutors, investigators and police officers' enhancement of inspections and scrupulous prevention of violence, bribery, false relocation of domiciles, election-related gambling and other illicit activities that could influence elections' fairness, the premier instructed.
Jiang also ordered that all election-related security measures be meticulously implemented, including those governing candidates' personal safety; the printing, safekeeping and distribution of ballots; polling stations; and computerized ballot-tally centers.
Preparations such as intelligence and information gathering and counter-measures to deal with unexpected events and sudden incidents are necessary, as well, Jiang said. He instructed the MOI's National Police Agency (NPA) to be on especially high alert to ensure that the election process is smoothly carried out.
The premier also admonished all government agencies to especially abide by administrative impartiality during the election period, and all grassroots staff to be particularly careful to avoid infringing related laws.
In addition to maintaining safety during the election period, local police departments are also undertaking food safety inspections. Jiang asked Minister of the Interior Chen Wei-zen and NPA Director-General Wang Cho-chiun to commend all officers and encourage them to keep up the good work during this busy period.
The CEC stated that 15,559 polling stations will be opened for the elections. After the voting concludes at 4 p.m., all township, city and district election centers must check the ballot results sent by the polling stations for accuracy, and enter correct results into their computer.
These data will be sent digitally to the central election center for tabulation via a special closed network. This network is reinforced by multiple information security, monitoring, and management measures to fully ensure the accuracy and security of the election results.
All voting data and announcements will be unilaterally made by the central election center. Citizens can access the center's website anytime for the latest updates.