Polls Open in Taiwan's Largest-Ever Recall Vote

TaiwanPlus News

Taiwan is holding its largest-ever recall vote, with the fate of 24 opposition lawmakers on the line. The results could dramatically shift the balance of power in the legislature. TaiwanPlus goes to a local polling station to see what voters are thinking.

Transcript

00:00It is a major moment in Taiwan's political history as voters head to the polls for the

00:05largest recall election the country has ever seen. With around a quarter of legislative seats

00:10up for recall, the outcome has the potential to completely reshape the balance of power in the

00:15government. Our reporter Rhys Ayers is live outside a polling station in Taipei. Rhys,

00:21polls have been open since early this morning. What's the turnout looking like so far?

00:24Well, Eric, a steady flow of people coming in and out of this school here in Taipei,

00:32which is now a polling station, all of them exercising their democratic rights in possibly

00:38one of the most contentious political events in modern Taiwanese history. After months of rigorous

00:45campaigning, it's now up to the Taiwanese people to decide the fates of 31 lawmakers. All of them

00:53are from the opposition Kuomintang or KMT. Now, they, along with the support of the smaller

01:00Taiwan People's Party, currently hold a majority in the legislature. 24 of those 31 are being voted

01:08on today. The remaining seven will be voted on later in August. And the decision facing voters

01:15is a very, very simple one. Vote to recall yes or no. Now, if enough lawmakers are recalled,

01:22that could really shift the power in the government. If just 12 legislators are recalled today,

01:30that would give the Democratic Progressive Party, who currently hold the presidency,

01:35that would also give them an immediate majority in the legislature too. So a very consequential day

01:41here for Taiwanese politics. Now, due to Taiwan's broadcasting laws, here at Taiwan Plus,

01:47we can't actually give you any kind of polling numbers or political analysis until after 4pm,

01:53which is when votes close. But I have been speaking to some voters here in Taipei about their experiences

02:00on the day so far.

02:01This is a symbol of a nationality. You can vote on whether you want or not. You can decide yourself.

02:07I think this is a very good thing.

02:09I think this is a good thing.

02:10I believe that this is a great thing.

02:11I just want to be able to express your heart,

02:13and I feel like having it in love. This is a good thing.

02:15Actually, I don't know if I can achieve my goals.

02:16Yes.

02:17It's a good thing.

02:18I don't know.

02:20I'll be willing to answer my goals in order for me.

02:21but I must say for people to say it in a way.

02:24I'm a person of a positive sort.

02:25I feel like me.

02:26I feel like I am good.

02:27I feel like we have a system of a government.

02:28I feel like we have a system of a system.

02:30I feel like we have a system that can be safe for our people.

02:31And I feel like we have a system of people.

02:36So I feel like this.

02:37Now, to be successfully recalled, at least 25% of eligible voters must come out to vote,

02:48and then at least 50% of those voters must vote to recall.

02:53So it's a pretty high bar to cross.

02:56So for now, we've got a few more hours left of voting.

02:58We'll let the voters get to their ballot boxes, and we'll hand it back to you in the studio, Eric.

03:05Thank you, Reese.

03:06That was Reese Ayers reporting from a polling station in Taipei.

03:10And tune in for more live coverage of the recalls at 5 here on Taiwan Plus.

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