Full official timeline

The CEC sets election day and the official schedule

At its 622nd meeting the Central Election Commission set voting for Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and adopted the work schedule for the mayoral, county magistrate and council elections. Local election commissions set their own schedules for the other five offices, in line with these dates.

Responsible: Central Election Commission (CEC) | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule) · Minutes of the CEC's 622nd meeting

The Legislative Yuan votes to propose referendums

The legislature's plenary session passed three referendum proposals, including the one later numbered Case No. 22. We could not find the Legislative Yuan's own record page for this date, so it is cross-checked against reports by PTS and United Daily News.

Responsible: Legislative Yuan | Sources: PTS News, 2026/08/17 (news report) · United Daily News, 2026/08/14 (news report)

The Legislative Yuan sends the proposal to the CEC

The legislature formally referred the proposal to the CEC. The Referendum Act requires this within 10 days of the plenary vote.

Responsible: Legislative Yuan | Sources: Minutes of the CEC's 626th meeting · Referendum Act, Art. 15

Election notices are published and the election formally begins

The CEC published the seats, districts, voting hours and campaign spending limits for the mayoral, county magistrate and council races. Local commissions published notices for the other five offices on the same day. In total, 11,051 officials will be elected.

For voters: If you moved your household registration into a district after this date, you cannot vote in that district this time.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC election notice, 2026/08/20 · CEC press release, 2026/08/20 · Election and Recall Act, Art. 15

Candidate registration rules are announced

Notices set out the registration period, locations, required documents and deposits.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC candidate registration notice, 2026/08/27 · Local commissions' registration notices

The CEC establishes the referendum as Case No. 22

At its 626th meeting the CEC found the proposal meets the Referendum Act's "major policy" requirement, numbered it National Referendum Case No. 22 and published the official notice the same day, setting the vote for the same day as the local elections. The question asks whether voters support the government using nuclear power to revitalize the economy and abolishing the "nuclear-free homeland" energy policy (unofficial translation). The CEC decided not to hold referendums on the two other proposals sent in the same batch.

Responsible: Central Election Commission (CEC) | Sources: CEC press release, 2026/08/28 (referendum decision) · CEC press release, 2026/08/28 (referendum schedule) · Official notice of Referendum Case No. 22 · Minutes of the CEC's 626th meeting

Polling stations are announced

Each municipal and county commission announced where polling stations will be. Notices can be corrected later; for example, Taipei's commission corrected three districts on October 7.

For voters: Check your polling station again before voting day. The commission's notice and your voting notice card are the reference.

Responsible: Municipal and county election commissions | Sources: Polling station notices · Taipei commission correction notice, 2026/10/07

Candidate registration

After the five-day window closed, the CEC reported on September 7 that 19,695 people had registered across the nine races, for 11,051 seats.

Responsible: Municipal and county election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule) · CEC press release, 2026/09/07 (registration closed)

Last day for parties to withdraw nominations

Parties that wanted to withdraw their endorsement of a candidate had to do so by this date.

Responsible: Political parties | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule)

The CEC schedules five referendum presentations or debates

At its 627th meeting the CEC set five sessions on national free-to-air television. The Legislative Yuan represents the yes side; the Executive Yuan or registered opposing groups represent the no side. The same meeting decided the referendum ballot will be printed on white paper.

Responsible: Central Election Commission (CEC) | Sources: CEC press release, 2026/09/18 (referendum presentations) · Minutes of the CEC's 627th meeting

Deadline for both sides to name their speakers

The Legislative Yuan (yes side) and the opposing representatives (no side) had to submit their lists of speakers to the CEC by this date.

Responsible: Both sides (Legislative Yuan, opposing representatives) | Sources: CEC press release, 2026/09/18 (referendum presentations)

Candidate lists are certified

Eligibility reviews were completed and candidates notified of the ballot-number draw. All 23 municipal mayoral and 58 county magistrate candidates qualified.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2026/10/16 (candidates certified) · CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule)

Ballot numbers are drawn

Each candidate's number on the ballot is decided by lot, run by the municipal and county commissions.

Responsible: Municipal and county election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule) · CEC press release, 2026/10/16 (candidates certified)

Voter rolls are compiled

Both the election roll and the referendum roll are based on household registration as of November 8, 20 days before voting.

For voters: If you move your household registration out after November 8, you still vote at the polling station of your previous registered address.

Responsible: Household registration offices | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule) · CEC press release, 2026/08/28 (referendum schedule) · Election and Recall Act, Art. 20

Voter roll inspection (latest start date)

The law says the roll must be posted "15 days before" voting day, for at least three days. Under the counting rule in Article 5 of the Election and Recall Act, posting must start by November 12. Actual dates are announced by each district office; we have not found them yet.

For voters: Bring your National ID card to your district office to check your own entry and your household's. Report errors or omissions during the inspection period.

Responsible: Township and district offices | Sources: Election and Recall Act, Art. 38 · Election and Recall Act, Art. 22 · Election and Recall Act, Art. 5 (how periods are counted) · Referendum Act, Art. 24

Municipal mayoral candidate lists are published

By law, candidate lists are published the day before the campaign period begins.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule) · Election and Recall Act, Art. 38

Five presentations or debates on Referendum Case No. 22

Nov 12 (Thu) 3 p.m., Nov 14 (Sat) 7 p.m., Nov 16 (Mon) 3 p.m., Nov 18 (Wed) 10 a.m., Nov 20 (Fri) 7 p.m. Broadcast on national free-to-air TV and streamed live online, with recordings posted on the CEC website. The official notice set the window as November 9 to 21.

Responsible: Central Election Commission (CEC) | Sources: CEC press release, 2026/09/18 (referendum presentations) · Minutes of the CEC's 627th meeting · Official notice of Referendum Case No. 22 · Referendum Act, Art. 17

Mayoral campaign period and official policy forums

The campaign runs 15 days, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. Election commissions hold official policy presentation forums for mayoral candidates during this period.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule) · Election and Recall Act, Art. 40

Candidate lists for councils and county magistrates are published

Campaigning for these three races starts the next day.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule)

Campaign period and policy forums for councils and county magistrates

The campaign runs 10 days, with official policy forums held for these three races. By law, campaigns for township mayors and indigenous district chiefs also last 10 days.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule) · Election and Recall Act, Art. 40

Campaign period for township and village-level races

By law, five days counted back from the day before voting, for township representatives, indigenous district representatives and village chiefs. Local commissions' schedules give the official dates.

Responsible: Municipal and county election commissions | Sources: Election and Recall Act, Art. 40

Official voter counts are published

After inspection and corrections, the number of eligible voters for the elections and the referendum is announced.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule) · CEC press release, 2026/08/28 (referendum schedule)

Election and referendum bulletins and voting notices arrive

Both the Election and Recall Act and the Referendum Act require bulletins to reach every household "two days before" voting day. Under the Article 5 counting rule, the deadline is November 25. District offices deliver voting notice cards two days before voting day; they may be skipped for township-level races. Bulletins are also posted on the CEC bulletin site.

For voters: Read the candidates' platforms in the bulletin, and check the polling station printed on your voting notice.

Responsible: Election commissions (bulletins), district offices (notice cards) | Sources: Election and Recall Act, Art. 47 · Referendum Act, Art. 18 · Enforcement Rules of the Election and Recall Act, Art. 12 · Election and Recall Act, Art. 5 (how periods are counted) · CEC election and referendum bulletin site

Voting day: nine local races and Referendum Case No. 22

Vote from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the polling station for your registered address. It is a legal day off.

For voters: You must bring your National ID card. When collecting ballots you sign, stamp a seal or give a fingerprint, so a seal is optional. Cast all ballots in one visit; once you leave the polling station you cannot go back in.

Responsible: Voters | Sources: CEC election notice, 2026/08/20 · Official notice of Referendum Case No. 22 · Election and Recall Act, Art. 5-1 · Referendum Act, Art. 23 · Election and Recall Act, Art. 18 · Election and Recall Act, Art. 19

Counting

When voting closes at 4 p.m., each polling station becomes a counting station. Ballots are read aloud and counted in public, and results are posted at the door.

Responsible: Municipal and county election commissions | Sources: Election and Recall Act, Art. 57 · CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule)

Winners are certified and announced

The law requires this within seven days of voting; the CEC schedule sets this date.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule) · Election and Recall Act, Art. 38

Referendum Case No. 22 result is certified and announced

The Referendum Act requires the result to be announced within seven days of voting.

Responsible: Central Election Commission (CEC) | Sources: CEC press release, 2026/08/28 (referendum schedule) · Referendum Act, Art. 30 · Referendum Act, Art. 31

Certificates of election are issued

Election commissions issue certificates to the winners.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule)

Newly elected local officials take office

The Local Government Act says winners take office on the day the previous term ends. Minutes of the CEC's 622nd meeting state that the current term ends on December 25, 2026.

Responsible: Elected officials | Sources: Local Government Act, Arts. 33, 55, 56, 57, 59 · Minutes of the CEC's 622nd meeting

Candidates are notified to claim campaign subsidies

Candidates who pass the vote threshold receive NT$30 per vote, capped at the district's campaign spending limit.

Responsible: CEC and local election commissions | Sources: CEC press release, 2025/10/31 (election day and schedule) · Election and Recall Act, Art. 43