Poll: Majority of Taiwanese oppose death penalty abolition

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A recent poll released by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation (TPOF) on Monday (May 27) reveals strong opposition among Taiwanese citizens to the abolition of the death penalty, with 63.3% of respondents expressing outright disapproval of its removal. 

The survey also showed that 45.8% of those surveyed said they could not accept if the Judicial Yuan's 15 justices declared the death penalty unconstitutional.

The poll further indicates that among Taiwanese over the age of 20, a staggering 85% oppose the abolition of the death penalty, with only 10% in favor. This sentiment spans across political lines, with 81.5% of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters, 88.9% of Kuomintang (KMT) supporters, and 91.1% of Taiwan People's Party (TPP) supporters opposing its removal. Even among those with no specific party affiliation, 82.9% stand against the abolition.

The survey, designed and reported by Professor Michael You and conducted by the Focus Survey Research, took place from May 20 to May 22, 2024. It employed a dual-frame random sampling method, combining landline and mobile phone interviews, with 1,077 valid samples. With a 95% confidence level, the sampling error is within plus or minus 2.99 percentage points. The sample was weighted according to the latest population statistics from the Ministry of the Interior to match the demographic structure of the population. TPOF funded the survey.

This comprehensive opposition to the abolition of the death penalty across various demographics and political affiliations in Taiwan underscores the complex and contentious nature of capital punishment in the island's legal and moral debates. As discussions continue, the findings of this poll are likely to play a significant role in shaping the death penalty's future in Taiwan.