Page 166 - Conducting Elections during COVID-19

148 INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF CONDUCTING ELECTIONS DURING COVID-19

Taiwan

Strategies for Conduct of COVID-19 Safe Elections

National Level Elections in January, 2020

Taiwan conducted its 15th presidential and vice-presidential election on 11 January 2020. These were
conducted along with the election of the 10th Legislative Yuan which has 113 members. The national
election with about 19.3 million voters witnessed a voter turnout at 74.9%. This was the highest turnout
among nationwide elections since 2008.
Taiwan’s Overall strategy

In the 17 years since it was hit hard by the SARS outbreak, Taiwan has been in a state of constant
readiness to the threat of an emerging infectious disease. When information concerning a novel
pneumonia outbreak was first confirmed on December 31, 2019, Taiwan began implementing onboard
quarantine of direct flights from specific locations the same day. On January 2, 2020, Taiwan
established a response team for the disease and activated the Central Epidemic Command Center
(CECC) on January 20 as a level 3 government entity. The entity was later upgraded it to level 2 and
level 1 on January 23. Taiwan demonstrated an aggressive strategy and sustained efforts to control the
epidemic right from beginning

Harnessing technology

Disease knows no borders. In response to the threat of the COVID-19 epidemic, Taiwan has implemented
dynamic plans related to border quarantine measures. These included onboard quarantine, thermal
scanning, health declarations, and a 14-day home quarantine for passengers arriving from nations which
were under the Level 3 Warning. Moreover, Taiwan established an electronic system for quarantine upon
entry, which enabled passengers with a local mobile phone number to fill in health information. A health
declaration pass was then sent to them as a text message. This was connected to the community care
support management system, which allows government agencies to provide care services and medical
assistance. The travel history of individuals was now stored on the National Health Insurance (NHI) card
to alert physicians to possible cases and prevent community transmission. For those undergoing home
quarantine or isolation, the government worked with telecom operators to allow GPS tracking of their
locations. Quarantine offenders were subject to fines or mandatory placement according to relevant tions. Quarantine offenders were subject to fines or mandatory placement according to relevant
loca
laws and regulations, so as to prevent transmission.s and regulations, so as to prevent transmission.
law

CEC Chairperson Lee was outside the polling station. He inspected prevention
measures on the COVID-19 during by-elections.