The 2026 (ROC Year 115) local public official elections are scheduled for Saturday, November 28 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (8:00 to 16:00 / 0 to 24 hours), held concurrently with National Referendum Case No. 22; to vote, voters only need to present their own original National ID card to claim ballots (Civil Servants Election and Recall Act Article 18), and may sign, stamp a personal seal, or affix a thumbprint on the electoral roll, meaning a personal chop is not legally mandatory. Mobile phones may be brought into polling stations provided they are completely switched off (Article 65 Paragraph 3); voters must never display their marked ballot to others (Article 63 Paragraph 2). The voting age is 20 for local elections (with 4 months residency in the electoral district), whereas the referendum voting age is 18 (with 6 months residency in the ROC), so eligible 18- and 19-year-olds receive only the referendum ballot.
Reminder: Voting dates and hours follow Central Election Commission Announcements No. 1153150253 (elections) on August 20, 2026 and No. 1153150284 (referendum) on August 28, 2026 (115). Statutory citations reflect the Laws & Regulations Database version of the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act (amended July 1, 2026 / 115; January and July amendments did not alter Articles 18, 63, or 65). Polling locations, election bulletins, and voting slips are determined by Taipei City and New Taipei City Election Commissions and District Offices; in case of natural disasters, CEC rescheduling announcements govern.
Election Day, Hours and Ballot Types Received
The Central Election Commission announces that voting takes place on Saturday, November 28, 2026 (115), from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at designated polling stations announced by municipal and county election commissions. National Referendum Case 22 is voted on simultaneously, with the ballot text: "Do you support the government utilizing nuclear power to revitalize the economy and repealing the nuclear-free homeland energy policy?"
| Election Type | Taipei City | New Taipei City | Ballot Paper Color (CEC Rules) |
|---|
| Special Municipality Mayor | 9th Term Mayor | 5th Term Mayor | Light yellow |
| Special Municipality Councilor | 15th Term Councilors, 61 seats to elect | 5th Term Councilors, 68 seats to elect | District councilor white; Mountain Indigenous light green; Plain Indigenous light blue |
| Borough Chief (里長) | Held | Held (5th Term) | White; municipal election commissions may adjust to pink |
| Indigenous District Chief & Council Representatives | None | Wulai District 4th Chief & Council Representatives | District chief golden yellow; district representatives light orange |
| National Referendum Case 22 | Held | Held | Printed per election commission specification |
Councilors are voted on by electoral district, such as Taipei City District 1 covering Beitou and Shilin (12 seats) and New Taipei City District 5 covering Banqiao (9 seats); check the official election bulletin delivered to your household for your constituency.
What to Bring to the Polling Station
| Item | Mandatory Status | Statutory Rule |
|---|
| National ID Card | Mandatory | Election and Recall Act Article 18 Paragraph 1: voters must present their own original National ID card to claim ballots |
| Personal Seal (Chop) | Optional | Article 18 Paragraph 2: voters may sign, stamp a seal, or affix a thumbprint on the roll; thumbprints require two election officers to witness |
| Voting Notification Slip | Not legally required | Compiled by household offices and distributed by District Offices 2 days before voting (Enforcement Rules Article 12 Paragraph 3), scheduled before Nov 25 |
| Mobile Phone | Allowed, but must be powered off | Article 65 Paragraph 3: no cell phones or cameras allowed into polling stations unless switched off |
| Children Under Age 6 | Permitted to accompany | Article 57 Paragraph 4: voters may bring accompanied children under age 6 into the polling station |
If your ID card is lost, replace it at a household registration office beforehand; see How to Replace a Lost National ID Card. Article 18 specifies the National ID card as the sole credential. Minor clerical errors or married surnames differing between ID and the roll can be verified and approved by the chief poll administrator.
Voters with disabilities who cannot mark ballots independently but can express their intent may be assisted by a family member under Article 18 Paragraph 3, or by two poll officers if unaccompanied.
Voter Eligibility and Polling Locations
| Condition | Public Official Elections | Referendum Case No. 22 |
|---|
| Age Requirement | ROC citizens aged 20 and above (Article 14), calculated up to the day prior to voting (Article 4) | Citizens aged 18 and above without guardianship order (Referendum Act Article 7) |
| Residency Duration | Continuous residency in the electoral district for 4+ months (Article 15 Paragraph 1); moving in after Aug 20 (115) carries no voting right (Article 15 Paragraph 2) | Continuous residency in ROC for 6+ months (Referendum Act Article 8 Paragraph 1), calculated up to day before voting (Article 8 Paragraph 2) |
| Polling Station | Vote at polling stations tied to household registration (Article 17 Paragraph 1) | Electoral rolls compiled separately for referendums (Referendum Act Article 24 Paragraph 2) |
Electoral registers are compiled based on household records registered 20 days prior to election day (November 8); those who move household registration after November 8 must return to their former registration site to vote (Article 20 Paragraph 1). The roll is open for public inspection from November 10 to 12 at District Offices (Article 22). Those who recently moved should verify their polling location; see What Documents to Bring When Moving Household Registration.
How to find your polling station: Municipal election commissions announce polling station locations 15 days prior to election day (Enforcement Rules Article 30 Paragraph 1), included in election bulletins delivered by November 25 or accessible online at the CEC portal (info.cec.gov.tw/vote2026).
Cell Phones, Photos, and Ballot Display Penalties
| Prohibited Action | Statutory Clause | Penalty |
|---|
| Bringing unpowered-off cell phone or camera into polling booth | Article 65 Paragraph 3 | Article 106 Paragraph 1: administrative fine of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 |
| Using cameras or devices to spy on voter ballot markings | Article 65 Paragraph 4 | Article 106 Paragraph 2: imprisonment up to 5 years, and fine up to NT$500,000 |
| Displaying marked ballot to others (ballot showing) | Article 63 Paragraph 2; Referendum Act Article 21 Paragraph 2 | Article 105; Referendum Act Article 43: imprisonment up to 2 years, detention, or fine up to NT$200,000 |
| Wearing candidate/party apparel, badges or campaign flags and refusing to stop | Article 65 Paragraph 1 Item 3 | Ordered to leave and ballot confiscated; criminal penalties under Article 105 apply upon refusal |
| Inserting non-ballot objects into ballot boxes or intentionally tearing ballots | Article 110 final paragraph | Administrative fine of NT$5,000 to NT$50,000 |
Article 105 text: "Violating Article 63 Paragraph 2, Article 88 Paragraph 2, or Article 65 Paragraph 1 items, and refusing to leave when ordered, shall be punished by imprisonment up to 2 years, detention, or a fine up to NT$200,000." Tip: switch off mobile phones before entering, fold marked ballots before depositing, avoid photos, and refrain from candidate merchandise. Use only the official marking tool provided to vote for one candidate (Article 63 Paragraph 1).
Working Employees: Is Election Day an Official Holiday?
The Ministry of Labor states that voting day is a statutory designated holiday under Labor Standards Act Article 37: workers who hold voting rights and are scheduled to work are granted 1 day off (24 consecutive hours from 00:00 to 24:00); workers already off receive no additional leave or compensation. Employers having agreed employee shifts on voting day must pay overtime wages without hindering voting. Since November 28 is a Saturday, standard 5-day week workers are already on rest days; shift workers benefit directly from this rule.
Taipei and New Taipei Election Commission Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to bring a personal seal to vote?
No. Article 18 provides that signing your name or affixing a thumbprint on the electoral roll is legally sufficient. The only strictly mandatory document is your original National ID card.
Can I bring my mobile phone to vote?
Yes, but it must be completely powered off before entering the polling booth. Article 65 Paragraph 3 prohibits active devices; violators face administrative fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under Article 106.
Can 18- and 19-year-olds vote?
Only for referendums. The Referendum Act Article 7 sets voting age at 18, while election voting age remains 20 under Article 14. Therefore, 18- and 19-year-olds on Nov 28 receive only the Referendum Case 22 ballot (requires 6 months ROC residency under Article 8).
Can I vote without the voting notification slip?
Yes. The notification slip is not a statutory prerequisite for claiming ballots under Article 18. Check your polling venue from official bulletins or the CEC website, or call Taipei (02)2723-3372 or New Taipei (02)8221-1688.
Where do I vote if I recently moved?
Electoral rolls are finalized based on household registration records as of November 8 (20 days prior); those moving after November 8 vote at their former registered station. Moving in after the August 20 announcement confers no local election voting rights. Check the roll between November 10 and 12.
Last updated: 2026-11-03
Compiled by SOSfix from official open data for general reference; consult Taipei City Election Commission, New Taipei City Election Commission, or Central Election Commission for specific cases.
Sources
- Central Election Commission: Announcement No. 1153150253 on 2026 Local Elections (Aug 20, 2026 / 115, PDF downloaded 2026-11-02): Voting day Nov 28, 8 to 16 hours; Taipei 9th and New Taipei 5th Mayors; 61 and 68 council seats and constituencies.
- Central Election Commission: Announcement No. 1153150284 on Referendum Case 22 (Aug 28, 2026 / 115, downloaded 2026-11-02): Referendum hours 8 to 16, full text of nuclear proposal.
- Central Election Commission: 2026 Ballot Colors Guide (Released Aug 18, 2026, verified 2026-11-02): Standard ballot colors; borough chief pink adjustment option.
- Central Election Commission: 2026 Local Election Schedule (Downloaded 2026-11-02): Roll compiled 11/8, inspection 11/10 to 11/12, bulletins by 11/25, stations by Aug 31 (8/31).
- Laws & Regulations Database: Civil Servants Election and Recall Act (Amended Jul 1, 2026 / 115, verified 2026-11-02): Articles 4, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 57, 63, 65, 105, 106, 110.
- Laws & Regulations Database: Election and Recall Act Legislative History (Verified 2026-11-02): Jan 21, 2026 amendments to Articles 57, 70, 71, 73; Jul 1 amendment to Article 26.
- Laws & Regulations Database: Enforcement Rules of Election and Recall Act (Amended Nov 27, 2025 / ROC 114, verified 2026-11-02): Article 12 notification slips 2 days prior, Article 30 station announcements.
- Laws & Regulations Database: Referendum Act (Amended Dec 3, 2025 / ROC 114, verified 2026-11-02): Article 7 age 18, Article 8 6-month residency, Article 21 and 43 ballot secrecy and penalties, Article 24 separate rolls.
- Ministry of Labor: National Holidays and Make-Up Days (Updated May 6, 2026, verified 2026-11-02): Designating voting days as statutory paid holidays for scheduled workers.
- Taipei City Election Commission Official Site (Verified 2026-11-02): Address and phone (02)2723-3372.
- New Taipei City Election Commission Official Site (Verified 2026-11-02): Address and phone (02)8221-1688; 5th Term Borough Chief and 4th Term Wulai District elections.
- Central Election Commission: Announcement on Indigenous District and Village/Borough Elections (Aug 20, 2026 / 115, verified 2026-11-02): Concurrent indigenous district and village/borough elections.
