Taitung Prosecutors Search Multiple Sites Over Ghost Population Allegations in Green Island Election

The fairness and integrity of local self-governance elections in Taiwan have long been considered vital pillars of democratic foundations. However, in remote islands and rural areas where the population is small and the voter structure is tightly knit, candidates have frequently been reported to employ irregular methods to influence vote distribution in order to gain a decisive edge in fierce competition. Today, the Taitung District Prosecutors’ Office opened an investigation into a case of suspected violations of the Election and Recall Act concerning the election for village representatives in Lüdow Township. The suspect, a village representative candidate surnamed Zheng, and his spouse were subjected to searches and summons by judicial authorities for their involvement in what is colloquially known as “ghost population” practices—specifically, fraudulent migration of household registration. Following preliminary interrogations, the prosecutor ordered Zheng to post a bail of NT$50,000 to secure his release pending further proceedings, while his wife was released on bail of NT$30,000. Another candidate in the same case, a village representative candidate surnamed He, was released after being questioned by the prosecutors. This case not only underscores the determination of judicial authorities to investigate vote-buying and illegal election interference in grassroots elections but also brings the long-standing issue of ghost populations in island elections back into public view.

According to intelligence gathered and subsequent investigative progress by the Taitung District Prosecutors’ Office, the core of this case lies in acts that undermine the integrity of elections, as regulated by the Election and Recall Act. The term “ghost population” refers to voters whose actual place of residence does not match their registered household address. For specific political purposes, these individuals temporarily migrate their household registration to a particular electoral district shortly before an election, enabling them to exercise their voting rights on election day and thereby influence the outcome. In remote island areas where population outflow is severe and the margin of victory in grassroots electoral districts is often only a few dozen or even single digits, the votes cast by ghost populations frequently become the deciding factor. After receiving intelligence, judicial authorities conducted extensive evidence collection and screening of household administration data. They discovered that during the critical period of preparation for the election, abnormal household migration patterns emerged within the electoral district of Lüdow Township, involving two village representative candidates, surnamed Zheng and He, respectively. These migrants often had familial, clan, or special interest ties with local candidates. However, there was no evidence of regular, continuous residence on Lüdow Island in their actual life experiences, which raised suspicions among judicial authorities and led to the opening of a formal investigation.

Under the direction of the prosecutor, the Taitung District Prosecutors’ Office, in coordination with relevant judicial police units, carried out searches and summons operations. They investigated the residences and related premises of the persons involved and brought suspects and witnesses in for questioning. After an all-night effort to clarify the facts of the case, the prosecutor determined that the village representative candidate surnamed Zheng and his wife faced serious suspicion of committing the crime of undermining election integrity through fraudulent household migration. However, considering the current stage of the investigation and the extent of evidence secured, the prosecutor deemed it unnecessary to apply for detention. Consequently, Zheng was ordered to post bail of NT$50,000, and his wife was ordered to post bail of NT$30,000. As for the village representative candidate surnamed He, who was also listed as a subject of investigation in the same case, the prosecutor determined that the circumstances of his involvement were insufficient to warrant compulsory measures after he was questioned and explained the relevant situation; he was therefore released. Nevertheless, judicial authorities emphasized that the investigation into this case has not concluded. They will continue to deeply investigate the actual backgrounds of all individuals who migrated their household registration, the flow of funds, and whether there are other accomplices or organized operations behind the scenes, striving to thoroughly unravel the entire illegal structure.

The phenomenon of ghost populations is not unfamiliar in Taiwan’s electoral history, particularly in grassroots elections for township and city councilors, village and neighborhood chiefs, and other local officials. Due to the extremely low threshold for winning these seats, a difference of just a few votes can reverse the overall outcome, leading some candidates to take desperate risks. According to the Criminal Code of the Republic of China and the Election and Recall Act, the act of voting after obtaining voting rights through fraudulent household migration with the intent to ensure the election of a specific candidate constitutes a crime of undermining election integrity. Offenders face criminal prosecution, and if a court issues a final guilty verdict resulting in the invalidation of the election, the offender’s qualification for the seat will be revoked. These legal provisions aim to ensure that every vote represents genuine public will, preventing external forces or non-local residents from manipulating the elections of local autonomous heads and legislative representatives by lodging their household registration, thereby infringing upon the true autonomous rights of local residents. However, in practice, proving “fraudulent migration” often requires significant investigative resources, necessitating cross-checks of utility bills, neighborhood testimonies, workplaces, and actual living conditions. This makes it a labor-intensive task for judicial authorities to investigate such cases.

Lüdow, a renowned tourist destination and administrative island district in Taiwan, has always attracted high attention regarding its local political ecology. As members of the local legislative body, village representatives bear the important responsibilities of supervising township construction and reflecting local public grievances. The fairness of their elections directly affects the allocation of public resources and the direction of development for Lüdow in the coming years. The proactive move by judicial authorities to investigate the suspected ghost population case involving Lüdow village representative candidates has not only thrown a bombshell into the upcoming local elections but also sent a clear signal to the public that judicial organs will rigorously investigate illegal election interference. As the investigation continues to deepen, it remains to be seen whether the case will expand to involve other voters or related personnel, pending further investigation and explanation by the judicial authorities. For voters in Lüdow, after experiencing this judicial turmoil, how to re-examine the value of democratic elections, reject illegal electoral manipulation, and use their sacred votes to elect representatives who can truly serve the locality will be the most thought-provoking issue of this election.

(Source: Central News Agency)