Unconventional elements — such as Line accounts, quick response (QR) codes for Facebook groups and political cartoons — have become common sights on Nantou County’s official election notice as legislative candidates attempt to draw voters’ attention to their platforms in the run-up to the elections next Saturday.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislative candidate Ma Wen-chun (馬文君), campaigning for the seat representing the county’s first electoral district, included not only her campaign platform, but also her official Line account and a QR code linking to her Facebook group.
Taiwan Statebuilding Party legislative candidate Wu Cheng-jui (吳承叡), campaigning to represent the county’s second constituency, included a party-produced political cartoon and a QR code linking to more detailed information about the party’s goal and theme.
Photo: Liu Pin-chuan, Taipei Times
Democratic Progressive Party legislative candidate Chen Kuei-yu (陳癸佑), who is also campaigning to represent the second district, only listed his campaign platform, but it is meticulously organized, with each of his 10 policies described using the same number of words, which Chen said would facilitate reading.
Legislator-at-large nominees from the Taiwan People’s Party and the Congress Party Alliance not only included QR codes, but also miniature portraits of their parties’ leaders, hoping to gain supporters by proxy.
The Nantou County Election Commission has issued a reminder to voters, saying that they should refrain from stumping for candidates on election day.
Messages to vote for specific candidates — regardless of whether they are sent by text message, Line, Facebook or other social media — are prohibited, the commission said, adding that voters should not forward such messages on election day.
Regulations prohibiting such actions are to go into effect from midnight on Friday next week, the commission said, adding that infractions are punishable by fines of NT$500,000 to NT$5 million (US$16,609 to US$166,085).
Per Article 61 of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act (總統副總統選舉罷免法), cellphones and photography-related equipment are banned from voting stations and offenders could face one year in prison or be fined up to NT$30,000, it said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
RSS