TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Central Election Commission (CEC, 中選會) on Sunday (Nov. 3) advised against holding referendums alongside national elections due to the complexity and potential political influence. Legislators will discuss the proposal on Monday (Nov. 4) as part of a review of the "Referendum Act" (公民投票法) amendment.
The commission emphasized in its report to the Legislative Yuan that separating referendums from elections better reflects the people's will and allows sufficient preparation time. The Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部) echoed these concerns, noting the complexity and impact on administrative capabilities when combining referendums and elections.
Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislator Lo Chih-chian (羅智強) has proposed synchronizing referendums with national elections, while Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) legislator Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡) has suggested requiring identity card issuance dates during proposal and endorsement processes. The commission warned this could hinder public participation.
The MOI noted that past referendums, like the 19th national referendum in 2021, rejected the idea of holding referendums and elections on the same day. They argued that reverting to this rule might not align with voter expectations.
KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) also proposed that if a referendum passes, the president or relevant authorities should act within three months or resign. However, the commission pointed out that the diversity of major policies could make this timeframe impractical.
As the Legislative Yuan prepares to debate these amendments, the outcome could significantly impact Taiwan's electoral process and democratic engagement.