Taiwan’s Local Elections Open Registration as Taichung Green, Blue and White Candidates Rally Support

Taichung’s local election registration opened with the Democratic Progressive Party, Kuomintang and Taiwan People’s Party competing not only for votes but also for visibility on the first day.

The three parties arranged group registrations for city council candidates. Eight DPP candidates from the party’s so-called English faction registered at the Taichung party office at 9 a.m., accompanied by party chair Hsu Mu-kuei.

The Taiwan People’s Party followed at 10 a.m. with six candidates led by party chairman Huang Kuo-chang. The party is placing particular importance on the Taichung contest and hopes to win at least three seats, enough to form a city council caucus.

At 10:30 a.m., eight incumbent younger Kuomintang councilors from the New Politics Alliance registered together. They planned to appear in costumes representing different trades and professions, presenting themselves as advocates for workers across those fields.

Registration for the nine-in-one elections runs through Sept. 4. Taichung’s election commission is accepting mayoral and city council registrations at the activity center in Fengle Park, while village chiefs register at district offices. Further party registrations are scheduled for Sept. 1, and council speaker Chang Ching-chao plans to register on Sept. 2. DPP mayoral candidate Ho Hsin-chun is also scheduled to register on Sept. 2, while KMT candidate Chiang Chi-chen is due to register on Sept. 3.