TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's voters head to the polls on Saturday (Jan. 13) to choose their president, vice president, district legislators, and party for at-large legislator seats. Polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with approximately 19.5 million eligible voters, including 1.03 million first-time voters, participating.
Studies suggest a connection between weather conditions and voter turnout, with poor weather potentially reducing turnout and warmer temperatures increasing it by 0.08%.
Earlier today, President Tsai Ing-wen cast her vote and emphasized the importance of preserving democratic values. The main opposition party Kuomintang's (KMT) presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih, also voted. A third party, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), is competing amid growing Chinese threats and a lack of confidence in the incumbent parties.
Cross-strait tensions and misinterpreted events, like a recent satellite launch, have added complexity to the election. Diplomatic relations and the economy also weigh heavily in today's decisions.
Stay tuned for updates on TVBS World Taiwan as the day unfolds.
