26 November 2022•Update: 26 November 2022
ANKARA
Taiwan kicked off voting on Saturday to elect more than 11,000 representatives to local government positions.
According to the Central Election Commission, approximately 19.13 million eligible voters will cast ballots in the elections, with 760,000 casting votes for the first time, according to the Central News Agency.
People will also vote in a referendum to lower the voting age from 20 to 18 years old.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the China-friendly opposition Nationalist Party (KMT) are expected to compete for mayorships in six of Taiwan's largest cities, including the capital Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.
The results of the local elections will be significant for President Tsai Ing-wen, as the self-ruled island nation is expected to hold presidential and legislative elections early next year.
Meanwhile, people who test positive for COVID-19 are barred from voting in person, and anyone who violates the mandatory quarantine faces a $64,714 fine or a maximum two-year prison sentence, according to the news agency.
The ban will prevent approximately 65,000 people from voting, it added.
The results are expected to be announced later in the late evening.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid
