Candidate's misinterpretation of 'black-listing' clause causes stir; Yunlin Election Commission clarifies no review yet

Yunlin County Election Commission has clarified that no candidate registration has taken place for the upcoming 2026 nine-in-one elections, and thus, no qualification reviews or determinations have been made for any specific individual.

This clarification comes after Chang Chien-fu, the Democratic Progressive Party's nominated candidate for Dongshi Township Mayor in Yunlin County, announced his withdrawal on May 21 due to concerns about his eligibility under the "black-listing" clause of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act. He later held a press conference on June 15, stating he would proceed with his candidacy after realizing he had misinterpreted a response from the Yunlin Election Commission.

Chang explained that he received a reply from the Yunlin Election Commission regarding a request from the DPP's Yunlin County chapter to verify personal data of primary election candidates. He mistakenly believed this indicated he was disqualified under Article 26 of the election law, commonly known as the "black-listing" clause. However, after further verification, he confirmed his eligibility and decided to run.

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The Election Commission has not yet processed candidate registrations, and therefore, will not conduct candidate qualification reviews or determinations for specific individuals.

The Election Commission issued a statement to address the ensuing discussion, emphasizing that it has no legal basis or reason to conduct qualification reviews or make determinations for specific individuals before the official candidate registration period. They stated that Chang's press conference might lead the public to mistakenly believe the commission had already made a qualification determination for him.

The commission further explained that the DPP's Yunlin County chapter had requested assistance in verifying the negative qualifications of their primary election candidates. The commission then sought verification from five relevant authorities, including the local court, prosecutor's office, police bureau, Ministry of National Defense's legal affairs department, and the Disciplinary Court. The information received was then forwarded to the political party for their reference. The commission stressed that it is up to the political party to determine primary election eligibility, and the commission itself will not conduct qualification reviews until formal candidate registration is accepted. For individuals running as independents, they can check public court judgments on the Judicial Yuan's website or inquire with relevant judicial authorities.

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The Democratic Progressive Party's Yunlin County chapter had requested assistance in verifying the negative qualifications of their primary election candidates. The commission then sought verification from five relevant authorities... The information received was then forwarded to the political party for their reference.