The Kaohsiung Election Commission said yesterday it would increase the number of polling stations from 145 to 203 for an upcoming municipal referendum on reducing class sizes at elementary and junior high schools.
The Nov. 15 referendum asks voters whether to cap classes at 25 students. It will be the first referendum held by a city since the Referendum Act (公民投票法) was amended.
Chen Bao-te (陳寶德), the commission deputy secretary-general, promised to change the number of planned polling stations in response to a petition yesterday submitted by more than 100 teachers led by Kaohsiung Teachers’ Association president Yu Chu-cheng (于居正).
The teachers held a rally yesterday to complain that too few polling booths could affect the turnout.
Cheng Ming-bin (陳銘彬), a member of the association’s board of directors, said the city government was “acting out of tune” with public opinion, noting that more than 57,470 city residents had signed the petition to hold the referendum.
Several city councilors joined the teachers at the rally and expressed the hope that the referendum would pass, improving the quality of education.
Chen said the commission would announce the locations of the extra polling stations by Oct. 20.
The association has held a series of events to boost support for the referendum, although many city officials have argued against it, saying that it would cost the city government NT$32 million (US$990,000) per year for additional teachers and classrooms.
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