Lack of unified and clear standards for election deposits

Ji Huirong, the supervisory committee, pointed out that the National Election Committee lacks a unified and clear standard for setting the amount of the election deposit. It is really difficult to justify the setting of the amount, and it has not been reviewed, improved and adjusted in a timely manner in accordance with social changes and political developments for a long time. On the 17th, the Internal Affairs and Ethnic Group Committee of the Control Yuan passed the investigation report submitted by Ji Huirong, and recommended it to the election committee for discussion. Ji Huirong said that Article 17 of the Constitution guarantees people's participation in political power. However, people who have no financial means but are willing to participate in politics, such as small party candidates, young people, and housewives, cannot register for election because they cannot pay a high candidate deposit, which damages the The people's suffrage guaranteed by the constitution, and what the election will do to the people's suffrage guaranteed by the constitution, so the application is filed for automatic investigation.

Supervisor Ji Huirong.

(file photo)

[Reporter Wu Shuwei/Taipei Report] Ji Huirong, the Supervisory Committee, pointed out that the Election Committee lacks a unified and clear standard for setting the amount of the election deposit. situation, timely review, improvement and adjustment.

On the 17th, the Internal Affairs and Ethnic Group Committee of the Control Yuan passed the investigation report submitted by Ji Huirong, and recommended it to the election committee for discussion.

Ji Huirong said that Article 17 of the Constitution guarantees people's participation in political power. However, people who have no financial means but are willing to participate in politics, such as small party candidates, young people, and housewives, cannot register for election because they cannot pay a high candidate deposit, which damages the The people's suffrage guaranteed by the constitution, and what the election will do to the people's suffrage guaranteed by the constitution, so the application is filed for automatic investigation.

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The investigation report pointed out that the conditions related to election deposits should be reasonable in point 16 of General Comment No. 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 468 clarifies that the requirements for exercising the right to be elected should be reviewed and improved in a timely manner according to social changes and political developments, so as to protect the people's right to participate in the Constitution.

However, the investigation report found that the public official election security deposit system was stipulated in Article 38 of the "Public Official Election and Recall Law" enacted in 1980. It has been implemented in our country for more than 40 years. So far, the Central Election Committee has only held public hearings on July 8, 2019 and April 21 last year to determine the amount of deposits for the registration of candidates for public office elections. Reduce the deposit for mayor candidates from 2 million to 1.5 million yuan.

In this regard, the investigation report believes that the National Election Committee lacks a unified and clear standard for setting the amount of the election bond. Adjustment.

In addition, the survey report also pointed out that the non-refundable registration deposit for candidates for the election of public officials is currently stipulated as 10% of the quotient obtained by dividing the number of votes that should be elected in each electoral district by dividing the total number of electors in the electoral district. The threshold for refund is too high , causing small parties and independent candidates to counter-subsidize election funds, which is not fair.

The investigation report mentioned that the Ministry of the Interior had submitted a letter to the Executive Yuan in June 2020 to deliberate on the draft revision of some provisions of the "Election Strike Act". The amendment is 10% of the "total number of voters" in the electoral district. This draft is still under review by the Executive Yuan. The Executive Yuan should promote the amendment as soon as possible to protect the rights and interests of candidates.

Ji Huirong pointed out that Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 17 of the Constitution clearly stipulate the protection of people's suffrage, which is a necessary condition for the legitimacy of the rule of modern democratic countries.

In order to promote citizens' participation in politics and lower the threshold for citizens' participation in politics, the Executive Yuan should urge relevant competent authorities to properly discuss and provide a fairer platform for election participation in relation to assistance or protection measures for the economically disadvantaged and willing to participate in politics.

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Lack of unified and clear standards for election deposits