A-WEB secretary general praises Taiwan’s democracy, elections

2020/01/15

Taiwan’s 2020 presidential and legislative election results demonstrate that the country is a fully fledged democracy, according to Jonghyun Choe, secretary general of South Korea-headquartered Association of World Election Bodies Jan. 13.
 
 The atmosphere in which the elections took place was calm, rational and reflected the maturity of voters, Choe said, adding that there is no question the process was well managed by Central Election Commission—the statutory body tasked with administering Taiwan’s elections and referendums under the Executive Yuan.
 
 Choe, who observed campaign rallies and visited various polling stations during his six-day visit to Taiwan at the head of an A-WEB delegation, said the conduct of the people during the elections reflects deep-seated trust in society. This is also evident in the high level public confidence in the ability of the CEC to successfully and transparently oversee voting, he added.
 
 Through seven direct presidential elections since 1996, Taiwan has developed an advanced electoral system that can serve as an example for other A-WEB member states. The CEC’s commitment to continuously improving the electoral system is praiseworthy and demonstrates a measure of responsiveness less commonly found in other parts of the world, according to Choe.
 
 One example cited by Choe was the quick organization of additional voting booths and staffers. CEC officials listened to complaints of the people about long waiting times in Taiwan’s 2018 mayoral and municipal elections and acted, he said.
 
 The CEC—a current member of the A-WEB executive board—is extremely active in sharing its experiences and expertise via capacity-building programs and supporting related activities, Choe said. It is expected the two sides will work even closer together going forward in promoting free and fair elections worldwide, he added.
 
 Established in 2013, A-WEB comprises 115 members from 106 countries and territories. Taiwan, which participates under its official name, is one of 100 founding members.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)