Voting kicks off in Taiwan’s pivotal presidential election

One of Asia’s most consequential elections this year has kicked off in Taiwan, as the self-ruled island’s 19.5 million eligible voters head to polls to choose their next president and legislative representatives in a pivotal election that could have significant geopolitical consequences for the Asia-Pacific region.

The three main parties contesting what some have framed as a vote of “change versus continuity” are the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which is aiming to secure a historic third-straight presidential victory, the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the “middle ground” Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).

The top presidential and vice presidential candidates have already cast their votes and urged their supporters to do the same, with analysts expecting a high turnout of a little over 70%, comparable to the 74.9% turnout seen during the 2020 elections.