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KMT threatens to boycott CEC plebiscite plan

"Our democracy would be raped if the CEC decided to hand out two ballots at the same time."

Shuai Hua-min, KMT legislator

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday threatened to boycott the Central Election Commission's (CEC) plan to hold the presidential election and UN referendum simultaneously next year.

The caucus said that it would counter the CEC's proposal in pan-blue governed cities and counties by asking them to hand out the ballots for each vote separately.

The KMT caucus argued that handing out the two ballots separately would be simpler and make it easier for polling stations to maintain order.

KMT Legislator Shuai Hua-min (帥化民) yesterday said local governments could choose the voting procedure they considered best for the polls under the Local Government Act (地方自治法).

"Our democracy would be raped if the CEC decided to hand out two ballots at the same time," he said.

KMT caucus whip Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) said it would be difficult for polling station staffers to tell whether the voters had received one or two ballots and that some voters could confuse the two ballots if they received them at the same time.

While the DPP suggested that handing out the two ballots simultaneously would reduce the burden on polling station personnel, the pan-blue camp, which has said this could impact on the outcome of the presidential election -- proposes that the ballots be handed out separately, with voters first casting a vote for president and then casting a second vote on the UN application.

Both the government's UN referendum proposal and the KMT's proposal for a referendum on whether the nation should "return" to the UN using the name "the Republic of China" or any other "practical title" are in the process of completing a second stage signature drive.

KMT lawmakers made no mention of when its referendum would be held if it passes the application process.

KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said the government wanted to use the CEC as an election tool.

"The duty of the CEC is to make sure elections go smoothly -- not to cause trouble for voters," he said during a visit to Hualien County.

Additional reporting by staff writer
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