1977 Taiwanese local elections

1977 Taiwanese local elections

← 1973 19 November 1977 (1977-11-19) 1981  →
All 20 mayors/magistrates of cities, counties
Turnout	80.39%
Majority party Minority party   Leader Chiang Ching-kuo None Party Kuomintang Independent Popular vote 4,150,460 1,742,124 Percentage 70.44% 29.56% Mayors/ Magistrates 15 4
Kuomintang   Independents   Not up for election (Taipei)

Local elections were held in Taiwan on 19 November 1977, electing 20 magistrates and mayors in the country, 77 members of the Taiwan Provincial Council, and members of the Taipei and Kaohsiung City Council.

Seen as one of the most competitive local polls with crowded field of candidates, the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) was especially focusing on the bitter races in Tainan City, and the counties of Kaohsiung, Nantou, and Taoyuan.

The Kuomintang was accused of rigging the election in Taoyuan after the popular opposition was poised to fend off challenge by KMT's candidate, provoking widespread anger in the county and led to the crackdown on protest, later known as the Zhongli incident.

Provincial election

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Kuomintang			56
	Independents			21
Total				77
Valid votes		5,939,038	95.80
Invalid/blank votes		260,180	4.20
Total votes		6,199,218	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		7,713,736	80.37

	KMT	Ind	Turnout (%)
Taipei County	5	2	76.50
Yilan County	1	1	78.13
Taoyuan County	4	1	84.23
Hsinchu County	2	1	82.96
Miaoli County	2	1	78.44
Taichung County	3	2	85.62
Changhua County	4	1	83.42
Nantou County	2	1	79.15
Yunlin County	3	2	75.53
Chiayi County	4	1	75.77
Tainan County	4	1	79.23
Kaohsiung County	4	1	82.47
Pingtung County	3	1	81.72
Taitung County	1		77.27
Hualien County	1		77.46
Penghu County	1		79.04
Keelung City	1		77.12
Taichung City	2	1	81.55
Tainan City	2	1	85.56
Kaohsiung City	3	2	80.94
Plains Indigenous (North)	1		77.39
Plains Indigenous (South)	1		74.40
Mountain Indigenous	2		92.12

Source: ^[1]

Mayoral and magisterial elections

Taipei

Magistrate of Taipei

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	邵恩新	Kuomintang	519,099	74.76
	廖銘義	Independent	90,491	13.03
	李歸坵	Independent	68,711	9.90
	盧霖	Independent	16,023	2.31
Total			694,324	100.00
Valid votes			694,324	96.33
Invalid/blank votes			26,431	3.67
Total votes			720,755	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			944,438	76.32

Keelung

Mayor of Keelung

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	陳正雄	Kuomintang	77,172	56.74
	張金鐘	Independent	54,742	40.25
	陳榮強	Independent	4,097	3.01
Total			136,011	100.00
Valid votes			136,011	96.85
Invalid/blank votes			4,427	3.15
Total votes			140,438	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			182,416	76.99

Yilan

Magistrate of Yilan

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	李鳳鳴	Kuomintang	151,935	86.61
	許仁修	Independent	23,496	13.39
Total			175,431	100.00
Valid votes			175,431	96.67
Invalid/blank votes			6,048	3.33
Total votes			181,479	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			221,597	81.90

Taoyuan

Provincial Councillor Hsu Hsin-liang expressed interest in Taoyuan poll, but was not nominated by the ruling Kuomintang for being critical of the government. Instead the party nominated 歐憲瑜, an official in the Ministry of Judicial Administration. Hsu nevertheless entered the race, and was subsequently expelled from the party a month before voting.^{[ citation needed ]}

On the voting day, some ballot papers in Zhongli city were damaged by the poll workers. Voters reported to the police but was largely ignored. Worse still, the police escorted the officials. The furious public soon marched to the police station and demanded a recount. The confrontation, later known as Zhongli Incident, resulted in two deaths after being hit by police's bullet and teargas. It was regarded as the first mass demonstration against election manipulation by the authoritarian regime. Hsu was elected with a majority of around 90,000 votes.^{[ citation needed ]}

Magistrate of Taoyuan

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Hsu Hsin-liang	Independent	235,946	61.48
	歐憲瑜	Kuomintang	147,851	38.52
Total			383,797	100.00
Valid votes			383,797	97.23
Invalid/blank votes			10,915	2.77
Total votes			394,712	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			468,950	84.17

Hsinchu

Magistrate of Hsinchu

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	林保仁	Kuomintang	243,458	100.00
Total			243,458	100.00
Valid votes			243,458	86.99
Invalid/blank votes			36,425	13.01
Total votes			279,883	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			338,616	82.65

Miaoli

Magistrate of Miaoli

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	邱文光	Kuomintang	150,224	69.25
	張榮顯	Independent	66,706	30.75
Total			216,930	100.00
Valid votes			216,930	95.81
Invalid/blank votes			9,484	4.19
Total votes			226,414	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			288,745	78.41

Taichung

Magistrate of Taichung

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	陳孟鈴	Kuomintang	242,740	64.32
	楊順隆	Independent	134,640	35.68
Total			377,380	100.00
Valid votes			377,380	92.56
Invalid/blank votes			30,329	7.44
Total votes			407,709	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			476,224	85.61

Chen Tuan-tang, Kuomintang's incumbent Taichung Mayor, faced increasing attack over the bribery and financial mismanagement scandal of the city's government. The local "Chang faction" was also angered by Chen's decision to grant bus franchises, effectively ending the monopoly of transportation. Despite the local resistance, KMT chose Chen for re-election instead of the candidate from another powerful local tribe of Lai. ^[2]

For the Tangwai bloc, City Councillor Tzeng Wen-po (曾文坡) was selected after his rival gave way and ran for Provincial Councillor instead. ^[2]

Tzeng eventually won the election by surprise, with a mere 1,100 votes. The disappointment by the local factions was considered to be the major reason. ^[2] However, there were accusations of fraud as Tzeng's campaign first anticipated a lead of 10,000 votes, and that the officials delayed the counting of several ballot boxes until Tangwai supporters blocked the city office and the outbreak of Zhongli Incident. ^[3]

Mayor of Taichung

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Tzeng Wen-po	Independent	119,613	50.22
	陳端堂	Kuomintang	118,571	49.78
Total			238,184	100.00
Valid votes			238,184	96.72
Invalid/blank votes			8,090	3.28
Total votes			246,274	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			320,065	76.94

Changhua

Magistrate of Changhua

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	吳榮興	Kuomintang	308,333	65.25
	張春男	Independent	164,226	34.75
Total			472,559	100.00
Valid votes			472,559	94.89
Invalid/blank votes			25,471	5.11
Total votes			498,030	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			597,260	83.39

Nantou

Magistrate of Nantou

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	劉裕猷	Kuomintang	207,655	100.00
Total			207,655	100.00
Valid votes			207,655	94.27
Invalid/blank votes			12,626	5.73
Total votes			220,281	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			277,596	79.35

Yunlin

Magistrate of Yunlin

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	林恒生	Kuomintang	173,687	56.97
	黃蔴	Independent	131,163	43.03
Total			304,850	100.00
Valid votes			304,850	94.90
Invalid/blank votes			16,384	5.10
Total votes			321,234	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			425,489	75.50

Chiayi

Magistrate of Chiayi

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	涂德錡	Kuomintang	221,774	67.99
	謝明陽	Independent	104,393	32.01
Total			326,167	100.00
Valid votes			326,167	95.28
Invalid/blank votes			16,162	4.72
Total votes			342,329	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			451,627	75.80

Tainan

A total of 13 hopefuls battled for Kuomintang's nomination, the most across the country, which included Yang Pao-fa (楊寶發), a minister in Taipei City administration and Lee Ya-chiao (李雅樵), the Provincial Councillor with the backing of local camps. Although Lee earned more popularity in the grassroots, Yang, a young and loyal party agent, was nominated by the party. ^[4]

While rumours said Lee and others might try to sabotage Yang's anticipated walkover, he was the only official candidate in the election. With the support from the "mountain faction" and the acquiescence from the "sea faction", Yang faced no significant obstacles and was elected in the unopposed race. ^[4]

Magistrate of Tainan

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Yang Pao-fa	Kuomintang	386,738	100.00
Total			386,738	100.00
Valid votes			386,738	93.46
Invalid/blank votes			27,055	6.54
Total votes			413,793	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			522,682	79.17

Chang Li-tang (張麗堂) secured the party's nomination to run for re-election as Tainan Mayor, while the Tangwai was represented by Su Nan-cheng, stagging a re-run of the last election. ^[5]

Su was also supported by 蔡介雄, a Provincial Councillor who was no longer acquiesced his campaign for another term by the party because of his strong stance on social issues and as a tactic to split the opposition's vote. ^{[6] [7]} Branded "democracy fighter", 蔡介雄 ran for re-election and backed Su in mayoral election. The two rallied for government-friendly and anti-KMT's support respectively. ^[2]

During the canvassing, KMT's local branch denounced Su as a separatist and communist, which was rebuked by the leading candidate and strengthened the anti-government sentiments. ^[2] The one-party authorities also called on the soldier to vote for party's candidate. ^[8]

Chang's team believed the victory is secured, but as vote counting progressed, the lead by Su became clearer. However sudden blackouts were reported in a dozen of voting booths with counting slowed down, a common practice for rigging the election. With the growing fury by the public, the power supply and vote counting later resumed, and Su's advantageous position was maintained. ^[2] Su later said he resolutely demanded the authorities to abide the law and continue the vote counting, or face whatever consequences that may happen. ^[9]

Mayor of Tainan

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Su Nan-cheng	Independent	131,504	53.65
	Chang Li-tang	Kuomintang	113,627	46.35
Total			245,131	100.00
Valid votes			245,131	97.63
Invalid/blank votes			5,940	2.37
Total votes			251,071	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			293,476	85.55

Kaohsiung

Early results showed the election was too close to call with the independent 黃友仁 leading with around 4,000 votes only. As Kuomintang stronghold started counting the ballots, the Tangwai believed the defeat is imminent. Still, supporters of the opposition travelled to the stronghold to supervise the vote count to avoid any electoral fraud. ^[9] At the end 黃友仁 beat Kuomintang with less than 2,000 votes, which prominent opposition figure Yu Teng-fa said the supervising was critical as it prevented the authorities from stuffing KMT's ballots. ^[10] Yu also believed the majority should be much larger, at 60,000-some votes. ^[9]

Magistrate of Kaohsiung

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	黃友仁	Independent	204,782	50.33
	王正和	Kuomintang	202,116	49.67
Total			406,898	100.00
Valid votes			406,898	96.38
Invalid/blank votes			15,277	3.62
Total votes			422,175	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			511,905	82.47

In the city of Kaohsiung, the incumbent 王玉雲 had his majority shrunk from more than ten thousand to around 4,000, most of those are from the strongholds such as relatives of soldier and civil servants. ^[2]

Mayor of Kaohsiung

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	王玉雲	Kuomintang	236,984	55.30
	洪照男	Independent	191,591	44.70
Total			428,575	100.00
Valid votes			428,575	97.16
Invalid/blank votes			12,534	2.84
Total votes			441,109	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			545,555	80.86

Pingtung

Magistrate of Pingtung

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	柯文福	Kuomintang	354,231	100.00
Total			354,231	100.00
Valid votes			354,231	92.84
Invalid/blank votes			27,337	7.16
Total votes			381,568	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			464,382	82.17

Taitung

Magistrate of Taitung

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Chiang Sheng-ai	Kuomintang	107,865	100.00
Total			107,865	100.00
Valid votes			107,865	95.27
Invalid/blank votes			5,355	4.73
Total votes			113,220	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			145,296	77.92

Hualian

Magistrate of Hualian

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	吳水雲	Kuomintang	143,353	100.00
Total			143,353	100.00
Valid votes			143,353	96.39
Invalid/blank votes			5,374	3.61
Total votes			148,727	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			187,969	79.12

Penghu

Kuomintang Central Committee nominated 謝有溫 rather than a party official who was endorsed by the local party and the headquarter's nomination committee, after the Chief of Staff favoured 謝有溫 from the military due to the strategic location of Penghu. ^[11]

Magistrate of Taitung

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	謝有溫	Kuomintang	43,047	100.00
Total			43,047	100.00
Valid votes			43,047	94.92
Invalid/blank votes			2,303	5.08
Total votes			45,350	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			57,361	79.06

Source: ^[1]

References

1. 中華民國選舉概況. 中央選舉委員會. 1984.
2. 泰石. 《選壇風雲《中南部》》. 長橋出版社. 1978年1月.
3. 黃煌雄. 《國民黨往何處去？》. 長橋出版社. 1978年11月.
4. 陳延輝、蕭晉源. 《台南縣派系興起與政黨政治的確立》. 秀威資訊科技. 2005. ISBN 978-986-7263-26-1.
5. 林森榮. 《續修台南市志卷七選舉志 市長市議員選舉篇》. 臺南市政府. 1996年6月.
6. 許春風發行. 《運河脈動－蔡介雄評傳》. 嘉鴻出版社. 1985年10月.
7. 張國堂. 《打拼為台灣 30年來民主運動在府城－關懷與期盼》. 1995年4月.
8. 林瑞明日記，1977年11月17日。收於林瑞明，《少尉的兩個世界》，臺南：臺南市文化中心，1995年4月發行。頁22
9. 周平德，〈選舉不公平不公正不公開〉，收於《講沒完的政見》，臺北：拓荒者出版社。1979年10月初版。頁115-116
10. 彭瑞金，《臺灣野生的政治家——余登發》，臺北：時報出版。2000年4月3日初版四刷。頁107。
11. 蔡明惠. 〈民主轉型中的澎湖地方政治生態〉 (PDF). 《選舉研究》. 2004-11,. 第十一卷第二期: 頁133–162 [2023-01-26]. （原始內容存檔 (PDF)於2023-01-26）.