Taiwan Lawmakers Propose Election Eve as National Holiday

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers are pushing a proposal to designate the day before elections as a national holiday, aiming to give voters more time to return to their registered constituencies and participate in the polls. The initiative comes a year ahead of Taiwan’s local government elections, with supporters arguing that additional travel time would improve voter turnout and reduce logistical challenges.
Under Taiwan’s current system, elections are held on Saturdays. If approved, the new holiday would be observed on the preceding Friday, allowing citizens a full day to prepare and travel. Proponents say the adjustment reflects changing social patterns and the mobility of modern voters, many of whom work or study far from their registered districts.
While the ruling DPP backs the holiday proposal, it continues to oppose absentee voting. Party members argue that Taiwan lacks sufficient safeguards to prevent electoral interference and technical loopholes, particularly concerning potential influence from external actors. They insist that any move toward absentee ballots must include robust oversight mechanisms to maintain election integrity.
Opposition lawmakers from the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) are reviewing several related bills aimed at introducing absentee voting, signaling a possible policy clash ahead of the 2026 elections. The debate over how best to modernize Taiwan’s voting system is likely to intensify as election preparations begin.