Court officials began recounting ballots from the disputed presidential election yesterday, with no major disturbances reported.
State Public Prosecutor-General Lu Jen-fa (盧仁發) yesterday ordered all prosecutors' offices on high alert, telling them to be strict in handling any disturbances or legal violations that occur during the recount.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
"We hope the public will remain rational and allow the recount to be conducted smoothly and peacefully," Lu said.
Twenty-one district courts and 463 judges took part in the recount yesterday.
Although the Taiwan High Court had stated earlier that district courts, which are in charge of the recount, would not make public daily progress in the recount, a number of controversial ballots and administrative blunders were reportedly found at various recount centers across the country by both political camps.
A PFP representative claimed that most invalid ballots found in Taipei City constituencies were intended for the pan-blue ticket of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (
"During the recount process this morning, pan-blue lawyers reported that the number of invalid ballots intended for the Lien-Soong ticket were several times those for the ticket of [President] Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and [Vice President] Annette Lu (呂秀蓮)," PFP Legislator Chin Huei-chu (秦慧珠) said. "It is a shame that most of the ballots have a stamp on Lien's picture or on `No.2,' the candidate number of Lien."
When the validity of a ballot is called into question, a color photocopy of the ballot is presented to the Taiwan High Court for a final ruling. A copy of the ballot will be retained by lawyers of both camps as evidence.
The Taiwan High Court's "recount central command" is working with the district courts via phone, fax and the Internet.
The recounted ballots break down into three main categories: valid ballots for Chen-Lu, valid ballots for Lien-Soong, and invalid ballots.
At press time last night, both political camps were at odds over the number of controversial ballots discovered yesterday.
The Central Election Commission's (CEC) guidelines for validating ballots, made public by the commission before the March 20 election, are being used in the recount.
Ballots that do not conform to CEC guidelines will be presented to the High Court.
At the Taishan and Tucheng recount centers in Taipei County, 3,000 ballots were reported to be missing.
Panchiao was the largest constituency in the nation, with 1.7 million ballots cast in the election. Forty judges of the Panchiao District Court were assigned to recount duties, leaving only six judges to handle trials.
All recount centers are closely guarded by armed police and only recount personnel with special passes are allowed to enter.
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