“With each presidential election, Taiwan is showing the world how much we cherish our democratic way of life.”
—President-elect Tsai Ing-wen
On Jan. 11, more than 14 million ROC (Taiwan) nationals—including tens of thousands from abroad—cast ballots at 17,226 polling stations in the election of the country’s 15th-term president and vice president. Garnering 8.7 million, or 57.1 percent of the votes, incumbent Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and running mate Lai Ching-te (賴清德) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party defeated Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) and Chang San-cheng (張善政) of the main opposition Kuomintang, as well as James Soong (宋楚瑜) and Sandra Yu (余湘) of the People First Party.
According to the Central Election Commission, the 2020 presidential election had a turnout of 74.9 percent, the highest of any national election since 2008. While analyses attribute this to rising anti-Chinese sentiment, an increase in youth voters and good weather on polling day, the high turnout had been anticipated by observers given the number of passionate supporters participating in campaign rallies.
Taiwan Review captured the essence of the country’s vibrant democracy via a series of campaign-related photographs in the run-up to the election and on voting day.
—by Jim Hwang
Tsai Ing-wen and Lai Ching-te of the DPP
Campaign headquarters, Taipei (Photos by Chin Hung-hao)
Taipei (Photos by Chin Hung-hao and Chen Mei-ling)
New Taipei City (Photos by Chin Hung-hao and Chen Mei-ling)
Tsai delivers her victory speech. (Photo by Chin Hung-hao)
Han Kuo-yu and Chang San-cheng of the Kuomintang
Taipei (Photos by Huang Chung-hsin and Pang Chia-shan)
Yunlin County (Photos by Huang Chung-hsin)
Kaohsiung City (Photos by Pang Chia-shan)
James Soong and Sandra Yu of the People First Party
Taipei (Photos by Huang Chung-hsin and Chin Hung-hao)
New Taipei (Photos by Chen Mei-ling)
Keelung City (Photo by Chen Mei-ling)
Taoyuan City (Photo by Huang Chung-hsin)
Media crews are thick on the ground during campaign rallies. (Photos by Huang Chung-hsin)
More than 14 million ROC (Taiwan) nationals cast ballots at one of 17,226 polling stations nationwide. (Photos by Huang Chung-hsin)