July 23, 2025 — Taipei, Taiwan
In an extraordinary exercise of democratic process, Taiwan is set to hold a large-scale recall vote on July 26, with 25 recall cases up for decision across the island. The vote targets 24 Kuomintang (KMT) legislators and Hsinchu City Mayor Kao Hung-an, drawing widespread public attention.
This mass recall marks the first of its kind in Taiwan’s political history, prompting both interest and questions from voters about how the recall mechanism works and what thresholds need to be met for these efforts to succeed.
Understanding Taiwan’s Recall Process
Under Taiwan’s Election and Recall Act, the recall process involves three key phases:
1. Proposal Stage
A recall effort begins with a petition launched by voters from the official’s electoral district. To advance to the next stage, the petition must be signed by at least 1% of eligible voters in the district.
-
Example: In the 2021 recall of Taichung lawmaker Chen Po-wei, 291,122 voters were eligible. Therefore, 2,912 signatures were needed to meet the proposal threshold.
2. Joint Signature Stage
Once approved by the Central Election Commission (CEC), the petition proceeds to a second phase requiring joint signatures from over 10% of the district’s registered voters. The original proposer cannot sign again at this stage.
-
Example: In Chen’s case, at least 29,113 valid second-phase signatures were required to move forward.
The time allowed for collecting signatures depends on the official’s position:
-
60 days for national lawmakers, mayors, and governors
-
40 days for councilors and district chiefs
-
20 days for village or local representatives
3. Review and Voting
After submission, the local election commission reviews the signatures:
-
40 days for legislators, mayors, governors
-
20 days for municipal councilors and township leaders
-
15 days for local representatives
If the petition passes validation, the recall vote is scheduled within 20 to 60 days.
Conditions for a Successful Recall
For a recall to be finalized, two conditions must be met during the vote:
-
More voters must support the recall than oppose it.
-
Votes in favor must exceed 25% of the district’s total registered voters.
Failure to meet either condition results in the recall being rejected.
High-Stakes Political Implications
With dozens of officials—including high-profile lawmakers and Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an—facing recall, this event could reshape Taiwan’s local political landscape. Analysts are closely watching the outcome, which could signal shifting public sentiment and impact party strategies ahead of future national elections.
Stay Informed
The Central Election Commission encourages voters to stay updated through official sources as the process progresses.
For more details, visit: https://www.cec.gov.tw
