Taiwan’s Electoral System and the 2026 Local Elections

Contextual Background

The Stockholm Taiwan Center of the Institute for Security and Development Policy organized a webinar for the Digital Taiwan Lecture Series on August 19, 2026, to explore Taiwan’s electoral system and the upcoming local elections, scheduled for November 28, 2026.

Taiwan’s democracy has undergone a remarkable transformation since martial law was lifted in 1987. A major milestone came in 1996, when Taiwan held its first direct presidential election, marking significant progress in establishing its democratic system. Thirty years later, Taiwan stands as one of Asia’s most vibrant democracies.

Amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and the increasingly complex cross-Strait relations, Taiwan’s elections have attracted significant international attention. However, while election outcomes are widely discussed, the electoral system itself is often overlooked. Understanding how Taiwan’s elections are structured is essential, as electoral rules shape political representation, influence policymaking, and determine how political leaders are selected.

This report summarizes the key takeaways from the webinar, starting with a map of Taiwan’s electoral system and its unique features. On November 28, 2026, Taiwan will hold its local elections to elect city mayors, county magistrates, county councilors, township mayors, township councilors, and village chiefs for a four-year term. In the webinar, the speaker further explained these elections and used them to discuss Taiwan’s current political climate and related issues.

The webinar was recorded and made available on Youtube.