But if the CEC took these courses of action and gave the one-step voting procedure the same status as other affairs over which it has the authority to delegate, local election commissions would still have the right to make certain technical or administrative adjustments, such as the layout of the voting station and the ballot issuing process.
Local authorities could therefore amend the details so that a two-step voting procedure is used anyway.
This means that local election commissions still have some authority when it comes to estimating the costs and the efficiency of the ways in which elections are organized. This in turn means that the CEC would not be able to punish election officers for what it considers to be unlawful conduct.
It is regrettable that the CEC has not issued legal orders -- or at least administrative regulations -- that apply to institutions outside the central government in this matter.
Chen Chao-chien is an assistant professor of public affairs at Ming Chuan University.
Translated by Anna Stiggelbout
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