2020 Kaohsiung mayoral recall vote
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![]() Agree votes below 25%, diff > 9,700 Agree votes below 25%, diff > 2,400 Agree votes below 25%, diff < 2,400 Agree votes above 25%, diff < 2,400 Agree votes above 25%, diff > 2,400 Agree votes above 25%, diff > 9,700 |
The 2020 Kaohsiung mayoral recall vote was a recall election held on 6 June 2020 to recall the incumbent mayor of Kaohsiung, Han Kuo-yu. The recall was successful, as the number of agree votes (939,090) outnumbered disagree votes and exceeded the minimum requirement of 574,996. An acting mayor was appointed by the Executive Yuan and held office until 24 August 2020, nine days after a by-election was held.
The vote is the largest-scale recall vote in Taiwan in terms of electorate, and is the first ever successful recall of a mayor or magistrate.[1]
Background
Han Kuo-yu was elected mayor of Kaohsiung City in the 24 November 2018 local election. However, his popularity quickly dwindled after he began campaigning for the 2020 Taiwanese presidential election, leading to a recall proposal on 26 December 2019.[2] On 17 January 2020, a petition to recall Han cleared the first threshold with 28,560 signatures, exceeding the required 1% of the electorate (22,814 signatures).[3] On 7 April, the city's electoral commission verified that 377,662 of approximately 406,000 signatures collected in the second phase of the recall petition were valid, clearing the threshold of 10% of the electorate.[4][5] The Central Election Commission certified the validity of collected signatures on 17 April, and scheduled a recall vote on 6 June 2020.[6]
Han contested the legality of the recall in court, claiming that petitioners had been collecting signatures before he had served a full year as mayor, in violation of Article 75 of the Civil Servants and Election and Recall Act. The motion was denied by the Taipei Administrative High Court on 17 April 2020.[7] An appeal to the Taiwan Supreme Administrative Court was rejected on 7 May 2020.[8] Han claimed that the recall vote would damage his reputation, interfere with his mayoral duties, burden other city officials, and delay municipal work programs. The Taipei High Administrative Court ruled against these arguments on 22 May.[9]
Voting system
Residents of Kaohsiung City registered in the city continuously since 6 February 2020 and aged 20 or above on the day prior to the vote are eligible. The mayor is recalled if votes in favour of the recall outnumber those against and exceed one quarter of voters in the original electoral district (574,996).[10][11][12]
Procedures and timetable
The Central Election Commission stated on 2 May 2020 that the 1,823 polling sites used in the 2018 mayoral election would be set up for the recall vote.[13] The CEC released a statement by Han on 5 May, in which he emphasised the economic investment drawn to Kaohsiung during his mayoral administration.[14] Polls were open from 08:00 to 16:00 on 6 June.[15]
Opinion polling
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
Date | Pollster | Sample size | % turn out[a] | % turn out and vote agree | % in favour of recall | % against recall | % other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020-06-06 | Result | 2,299,981 | 42.1 | 40.8 | — | — | — |
2020-05-24 | INA News | 1,080 | 45.5 | 41.9 | 57.3 | 30.0 | 12.7 |
2020-05-23 | Apple Daily | 1,079 | 39.0 | 36.0 | 50.1 | 22.0 | 27.9 |
2020-05-20 | TVBS | 1,237 | 39.0 | 34.3 | 45.0 | — | — |
2020-05-21 | TPOF | 1,085 | 47.9 | 35.0 | 56.3 | 28.2 | 11.2 |
2020-05-19 | New Power Party | 830 | 46.4 | 35.6 | 56.4 | 28.9 | 14.7 |
2020-05-19 | Statebuilding Party | 1,072 | 34.5 | 31.9 | 54.4 | 26.5 | 19.0 |
2020-05-08 | Apple Daily | 1,082 | 50.2 | 37.3 | 65.0 | 20.4 | 14.6 |
2020-05-05 | INA News | 1,090 | 47.5 | 36.0 | 55.1 | 32.0 | 12.9 |
2020-04-20 | New Power Party | 805 | 43.6 | 33.0 | 52.1 | 35.2 | 12.7 |
2020-03-20 | Taiwan Brain Trust | 1,087 | 51.2 | 39.5 | 59.5 | 34.5 | 6.0 |
2020-02-07 | TVBS | 1,213 | 44.0 | 34.8 | 53.0 | 32.0 | 16.0 |
2020-01-16 | ETtoday | 1,768 | — | — | 63.4 | 33.2 | 3.4 |
2020-01-14 | TVBS | 1,030 | — | — | 53.0 | 32.0 | 15.0 |
2020-01-14 | TISR | 1,072 | 65.1 | 58.2 | 58.5 | 29.8 | 11.7 |
Results
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/June_6_Kaohsiung_City_Mayor_Recall_Leaders_Talk.jpg/220px-June_6_Kaohsiung_City_Mayor_Recall_Leaders_Talk.jpg)
The motion to recall Han garnered 939,090 votes favouring recall and 25,051 votes against recall. Agree votes accounted for 40.83% of eligible voters, exceeding the 25% minimum electoral threshold to pass it.[16][17] Han conceded the vote shortly after polls closed.[18][19] Kuomintang chairman Johnny Chiang stated that he accepted the outcome of the recall vote, and apologized to city residents for the party's shortcomings. The New Power Party said that the recall vote was a "victory for Taiwan’s democracy." The Taiwan People's Party commented that "the recall process — from the petition to the outcome of the vote — has written a new page in the history of the autonomy of regional politics in Taiwan."[20] Approximately five hundred supporters of Han from around Taiwan gathered in Taipei on 13 June to protest his recall and the policies of the Tsai Ing-wen presidential administration.[21][22]
Former counselor to the Kaohsiung City Government Yang Ming-jou was appointed interim mayor on 13 June by the Secretary-General of the Executive Yuan, Li Meng-yen.[23] A by-election for a new full-term mayor was held on 15 August, which was won by Chen Chi-mai.[24]
Count | % | % electorate | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Electorate | 2,299,981 | 100.00 | ||
Threshold | 574,996 | 25.00 | ||
Agree votes | 939,090 | 97.40 | 40.83 | |
Disagree votes | 25,051 | 2.60 | 1.09 | |
Valid votes | 964,141 | 99.47 | 41.92 | |
Invalid votes | 5,118 | 0.53 | 0.22 | |
Total votes | 969,259 | 100.00 | 42.14 | |
Outcome | Adopted |
District | Electorate | Agree votes | % electorate | Diff from 25% electorate | Disagree votes | Diff from agree votes | % valid votes | Valid votes | Invalid votes | Total votes | Turnout (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yancheng | 21,094 | 9,107 | 43.17 | +3,833 | 221 | -8,886 | 2.37 | 9,328 | 57 | 9,385 | 44.49 |
Gushan | 113,422 | 44,512 | 39.24 | +16,156 | 1,008 | -43,504 | 2.21 | 45,520 | 190 | 45,710 | 40.30 |
Zuoying | 158,116 | 57,508 | 36.37 | +17,979 | 1,416 | -56,092 | 2.40 | 58,924 | 271 | 59,195 | 37.44 |
Nanzih | 151,524 | 61,389 | 40.51 | +23,508 | 1,623 | -59,766 | 2.58 | 63,012 | 283 | 63,295 | 41.77 |
Sanmin | 281,281 | 120,311 | 42.77 | +49,990 | 2,889 | -117,422 | 2.34 | 123,200 | 567 | 123,767 | 44.00 |
Sinsing | 43,397 | 17,452 | 40.21 | +6,603 | 443 | -17,009 | 2.48 | 17,895 | 96 | 17,991 | 41.46 |
Cianjin | 23,704 | 9,437 | 39.81 | +3,511 | 252 | -9,185 | 2.60 | 9,689 | 47 | 9,736 | 41.07 |
Lingya | 142,733 | 57,069 | 39.98 | +21,386 | 1,421 | -55,648 | 2.43 | 58,490 | 295 | 58,785 | 41.19 |
Cianjhen | 157,294 | 66,816 | 42.48 | +27,492 | 1,779 | -65,037 | 2.59 | 68,595 | 347 | 68,942 | 43.83 |
Cijin | 23,954 | 10,658 | 44.49 | +4,669 | 295 | -10,363 | 2.69 | 10,953 | 58 | 11,011 | 45.97 |
Siaogang | 129,597 | 55,361 | 42.72 | +22,962 | 1,415 | -53,946 | 2.49 | 56,776 | 259 | 57,035 | 44.01 |
Fongshan | 294,083 | 117,795 | 40.06 | +44,274 | 3,062 | -114,733 | 2.53 | 120,857 | 617 | 121,474 | 41.31 |
Linyuan | 57,617 | 25,028 | 43.44 | +10,624 | 684 | -24,344 | 2.66 | 25,712 | 194 | 25,906 | 44.96 |
Daliao | 94,987 | 39,474 | 41.56 | +15,727 | 1,029 | -38,445 | 2.54 | 40,503 | 222 | 40,725 | 42.87 |
Dashu | 35,719 | 15,318 | 42.88 | +6,388 | 389 | -14,929 | 2.48 | 15,707 | 89 | 15,796 | 44.22 |
Dashe | 29,282 | 13,320 | 45.49 | +5,999 | 363 | -12,957 | 2.65 | 13,683 | 89 | 13,772 | 47.03 |
Renwu | 73,973 | 32,787 | 44.32 | +14,294 | 886 | -31,901 | 2.63 | 33,673 | 168 | 33,841 | 45.75 |
Niaosong | 38,963 | 16,662 | 42.76 | +6,921 | 412 | -16,250 | 2.41 | 17,074 | 91 | 17,165 | 44.05 |
Gangshan | 79,113 | 32,084 | 40.55 | +12,306 | 895 | -31,189 | 2.71 | 32,979 | 190 | 33,169 | 41.93 |
Ciaotou | 32,578 | 16,254 | 49.89 | +8,109 | 507 | -15,747 | 3.02 | 16,761 | 95 | 16,856 | 51.74 |
Yanchao | 25,354 | 10,618 | 41.88 | +4,279 | 306 | -10,312 | 2.80 | 10,924 | 91 | 11,015 | 43.44 |
Tianliao | 6,425 | 2,552 | 39.72 | +946 | 92 | -2,460 | 3.48 | 2,644 | 21 | 2,665 | 41.48 |
Alian | 23,841 | 10,559 | 44.29 | +4,599 | 281 | -10,278 | 2.60 | 10,840 | 70 | 10,910 | 45.76 |
Lujhu | 42,432 | 18,054 | 42.55 | +7,446 | 568 | -17,486 | 3.05 | 18,622 | 111 | 18,733 | 44.15 |
Hunei | 25,097 | 10,929 | 43.55 | +4,655 | 369 | -10,560 | 3.27 | 11,298 | 75 | 11,373 | 45.32 |
Qieding | 25,515 | 10,600 | 41.54 | +4,221 | 315 | -10,285 | 2.89 | 10,915 | 59 | 10,974 | 43.01 |
Yong'an | 11,699 | 4,914 | 42.00 | +1,989 | 122 | -4,792 | 2.42 | 5,036 | 23 | 5,059 | 43.24 |
Mituo | 15,918 | 6,173 | 38.78 | +2,193 | 193 | -5,980 | 3.03 | 6,366 | 48 | 6,414 | 40.29 |
Zihguan | 30,272 | 14,032 | 46.35 | +6,464 | 404 | -13,628 | 2.80 | 14,436 | 87 | 14,523 | 47.98 |
Cishan | 30,807 | 11,399 | 37.00 | +3,697 | 474 | -10,925 | 3.99 | 11,873 | 78 | 11,951 | 38.79 |
Meinong | 34,112 | 9,749 | 28.58 | +1,221 | 420 | -9,329 | 4.13 | 10,169 | 88 | 10,257 | 30.07 |
Liouguei | 10,903 | 2,880 | 26.41 | +154 | 164 | -2,716 | 5.39 | 3,044 | 40 | 3,084 | 28.29 |
Jiasian | 5,224 | 1,223 | 23.41 | -83 | 56 | -1,167 | 4.38 | 1,279 | 16 | 1,295 | 24.79 |
Shanlin | 10,238 | 2,733 | 26.69 | +173 | 121 | -2,612 | 4.24 | 2,854 | 28 | 2,882 | 28.15 |
Neimen | 12,517 | 3,863 | 30.86 | +734 | 145 | -3,718 | 3.61 | 4,008 | 56 | 4,064 | 32.47 |
Maolin | 1,520 | 60 | 3.95 | -320 | 1 | -59 | 1.64 | 61 | 0 | 61 | 4.01 |
Taoyuan | 3,342 | 201 | 6.01 | -635 | 24 | -177 | 10.67 | 225 | 2 | 227 | 6.79 |
Namasia | 2,334 | 209 | 8.95 | -375 | 7 | -202 | 3.24 | 216 | 0 | 216 | 9.25 |
Notes
- ^ Responses indicating "likely turnout" are not included
References
- ^ Wei, Katherine (5 June 2020). "Kaohsiung to vote on recall motion against mayor Han Kuo-yu". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "The Rise and Rapid Fall of Han Kuo-yu". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ "Petition to recall Han passes first hurdle: CEC". Taipei Times. 19 January 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ Wang, Shwu-fen; Liu, Kuang-ting; Yeh, Joseph (7 April 2020). "Petition to recall Han passes second stage, vote likely in June". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ Shih, Hsiao-kuang (20 February 2020). "Signatures for petition to recall Han pass 450,000". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ Pan, Jason (18 April 2020). "Han recall vote set for June 6". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ Yu, Matt; Mazzetta, Matthew (17 April 2020). "Motion to halt Han recall petition dismissed; Han vows appeal". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ Liu, Shih-yi; Kao, Evelyn (7 January 2020). "Han's appeal to halt Kaohsiung mayoral recall rejected". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Pan, Jason (23 May 2020). "Court rejects Han's attempt to halt vote". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ Wang, Shwu-fen; Hsu, Elizabeth (17 April 2020). "Recall vote on Kaohsiung mayor to be held in June". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ Liu, Kay (31 May 2020). "Kaohsiung mayor first special municipality chief to face recall vote". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- ^ "Explainer: June 6 vote to recall Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu". Central News Agency. 5 June 2020. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ^ Ko, Yu-hao (3 May 2020). "CEC reaches deal for Han recall vote". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Wen, Juei-hsiang; Ku, Chuan; Huang, Frances (5 May 2020). "Kaohsiung mayor defends himself against recall vote". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ Ko, Lin (6 June 2020). "Kaohsiung voters head to polls for mayoral recall". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ Mazzetta, Matthew (6 June 2020). "Han Kuo-yu becomes first mayor in Taiwan to be recalled (update)". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ Mazzetta, Matthew (6 June 2020). "Official count shows Han recall vote has passed threshold". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ Lee, Hsin-Yin (6 June 2020). "Han concedes defeat in recall election, blasts DPP's 'national team' effort". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ Huang, Hsin-po; Hung, Chen-hung; Hsu, Li-chuan; Chung, Jake (7 June 2020). "Kaohsiung voters recall Han Kuo-yu". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ Huang, Chia-lin; Wu, Su-wei; Hetherington, William (7 June 2020). "Executive Yuan to appoint acting mayor next week". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ Chater, James (17 June 2020). "Sense of loss voiced at protest". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ Liu, Chien-pang; Mazetta, Matthew (13 June 2020). "Protesters defy Han to rally against Kaohsiung recall vote". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ 陳朝福 (13 June 2020). "楊明州代理高雄市長 行政院秘書長李孟諺監交" (in Chinese). Taiwan. Central News Agency. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ 曾珮瑛; 吳慧芬; 林錫淵 (25 August 2020). "陳其邁就職花62萬 300人觀禮". 蘋果日報 (in Chinese). Taiwan. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "高雄市第3屆市長韓國瑜罷免案投票結果". Central Election Commission (in Chinese). Taiwan. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "高雄市選舉委員會:::高雄市第3屆市長韓國瑜罷免案各行政區投開票結果:::". 高雄市選舉委員會 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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- See also: Elections in the Republic of China (1912–49)
- List of by-elections in Taiwan