Wikipedia

1957 Taiwanese local elections

Local elections were held in Taiwan on 21 April 1957, the third nation-wide elections in post-war Taiwan, electing all 21 mayors of cities and magistrates of counties with a three-year tenure. Fuchien Province, then under military administration, was not up for election. Election for Provisional Taiwan Provincial Council was held alongside the local elections to elect 66 councillors.

1957 Taiwanese local elections
← 1954 21 April 1957 (1957-04-21) 1960 →
All 21 mayors/magistrates of cities, counties
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Chiang Kai-shek None
Party Kuomintang Independent
Percentage 65.38% 34.62%
Swing Decrease3.47pp Increase3.47pp
Mayors/
Magistrates 		20 1
Change Increase1 Decrease1
  Kuomintang
  Independents
  Not up for election (Yangmingshan, Fuchien)

The ruling Kuomintang (or nationalist, KMT) retained control of 20 administrative divisions, flipping two from Tangwai movement, leaving the opposition with Tainan City only after defeating the nationalist candidate. Widespread election frauds were reported, while the struggle between local factions in different regions continued.

Summary

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The list below shows the statistics of party membership of candidates standing in the election. Coloured box refers to the party membership of elected mayor or magistrate.

KMT CDSP Youth Ind
Taipei County 1
Taipei City 1 2
Keelung City 1 1
Yilan County 1 1
Taoyuan County 1 1
Hsinchu County 1 1
Miaoli County 1 1
Taichung County 1 1
Taichung City 1 1
Changhua County 1 1
Nantou County 1 1
Yunlin County 1 1
Chiayi County 1 1
Tainan County 1 1
Tainan City 1 1
Kaohsiung County 1 1
Kaohsiung City 1 1
Pingtung County 1
Hualien County 1 1
Taitung County 1 1
Penghu County 1

Detailed results

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Taipei

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Magistrate of Taipei
CandidatePartyVotes%
戴德發Kuomintang229,413100.00
Total229,413100.00
Valid votes229,41394.79
Invalid/blank votes12,6065.21
Total votes242,019100.00
Registered voters/turnout362,84966.70
Source: [1]

Seeking re-election, Mayor Henry Kao stood against KMT-nominated Huang Chi-jui (黃啟瑞). According to students of National Taiwan Normal University, only Huang was invited to give a speech.[2]

During vote counting, multiple electricity outage fueled suspicions over election fraud, and the number of invalid ballots reached 8,000, nearly all were in favour of Kao.[3]

As a result, Huang captured the capital for the ruling party with around 59% of valid votes. Kao responded with "gentleman doesn't care about results as justice shall prevail", "I rather lose with honour than win with disgrace".[4]

Mayor of Taipei
CandidatePartyVotes%
Huang Chi-juiKuomintang176,23858.88
Henry KaoIndependent121,50840.60
林清安Independent1,5590.52
Total299,305100.00
Valid votes299,30597.28
Invalid/blank votes8,3632.72
Total votes307,668100.00
Registered voters/turnout376,87081.64
Source: [5]

Keelung

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Mayor of Keelung
CandidatePartyVotes%
謝貫一Kuomintang38,61373.56
諸寶恆Independent13,88226.44
Total52,495100.00
Valid votes52,49592.05
Invalid/blank votes4,5347.95
Total votes57,029100.00
Registered voters/turnout96,99558.80
Source: [6]

Yilan

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Magistrate of Yilan
CandidatePartyVotes%
甘阿炎Kuomintang64,17158.02
陳旺全Independent46,43741.98
Total110,608100.00
Valid votes110,60897.52
Invalid/blank votes2,8162.48
Total votes113,424100.00
Registered voters/turnout142,23979.74
Source: [7]

Taoyuan

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Magistrate of Taoyuan
CandidatePartyVotes%
張芳燮Kuomintang88,43962.27
曹成金Independent53,58337.73
Total142,022100.00
Valid votes142,02297.57
Invalid/blank votes3,5382.43
Total votes145,560100.00
Registered voters/turnout187,44077.66
Source: [7]

Hsinchu

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After incumbent magistrate Chu Sheng-chi (朱盛淇) supported rival of the Kuomintang in 1955 election for Speaker of the County Council, Chu was not nominated by the party for re-election.

Magistrate of Hsinchu
CandidatePartyVotes%
鄒滌之Kuomintang88,53456.94
鄭鴻源Independent66,95343.06
Total155,487100.00
Valid votes155,48797.73
Invalid/blank votes3,6162.27
Total votes159,103100.00
Registered voters/turnout188,78084.28
Source: [8][7]

Miaoli

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Magistrate of Miaoli
CandidatePartyVotes%
劉定國Kuomintang81,49459.04
何允文Independent56,54240.96
Total138,036100.00
Valid votes138,03697.46
Invalid/blank votes3,5962.54
Total votes141,632100.00
Registered voters/turnout179,84578.75
Source: [7]

Taichung

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Lin He-nien (林鶴年), former Taichung Magistrate, was again nominated by the Kuomintang. Clashes between local factions continued, with "Lin faction" supporting Lin and "Chen faction" supporting Yang Chi-chen (楊基振) from Tangwai.

Opposition accused election frauds as strongholds of Yang experienced electricity outrage at night during vote counting, leaving polling stations with staff only.[9]

Magistrate of Taichung
CandidatePartyVotes%
Lin He-nienKuomintang111,62062.78
Yang Chi-chenIndependent66,18837.22
Total177,808100.00
Valid votes177,80896.82
Invalid/blank votes5,8443.18
Total votes183,652100.00
Registered voters/turnout243,15975.53
Source: [7]
Mayor of Taichung
CandidatePartyVotes%
Lin Chin-piaoKuomintang47,27358.56
何春木Independent33,45341.44
Total80,726100.00
Valid votes80,72696.63
Invalid/blank votes2,8153.37
Total votes83,541100.00
Registered voters/turnout111,36875.01
Source: [7]

Changhua

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This year's election was the repetition of 1954's between incumbent Chen Hsi-ching from the KMT and Shih Hsi-hsun from Tangwai, after Chen again secured party nomination.

Some of Shih's supporters were arrested during election rally, angering residents to protest outside the police station, while Kuomintang smeared Shih with personal attacks. On the election day, frauds such as blackouts and village chiefs voting on behalf of villagers that were reported in last election occurred again. Eventually Shih only received around 42% of votes, lower than the expected 140,000 and was defeated.[10]

Magistrate of Changhua
CandidatePartyVotes%
Chen Hsi-chingKuomintang143,88457.52
Shih Hsi-hsunIndependent106,27342.48
Total250,157100.00
Valid votes250,15796.60
Invalid/blank votes8,8153.40
Total votes258,972100.00
Registered voters/turnout351,80773.61
Source: [7]

Nantou

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Magistrate of Nantou
CandidatePartyVotes%
洪樵榕Kuomintang75,99461.22
蔡瑞水Independent48,13838.78
Total124,132100.00
Valid votes124,13297.10
Invalid/blank votes3,7072.90
Total votes127,839100.00
Registered voters/turnout158,46180.68
Source: [11]

Yunlin

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Wang Yin-kuei (王吟貴), ex-speaker of Yunlin County Council, ran for Young China Party and as a Tangwai candidate, fighting against Lin Chin-sheng, nominated by the KMT to stage a political comeback. As Wang was more popular than Lin, the local party announced from the local administration that towns with high turnout and support rate for Lin would receive government subsidies. The local KMT also launched smearing campaign against the rivalry, claiming Wang "stirred troubles", "divided the community", and "publicly assaulted the governance".[12] The defamatory speeches and vote-buying acts, although suspected of breaking election laws, were not penalised by the authorities.

On the election day, it was reported that staff at polling station marked the ballot paper in favour of Lin on behalf of a blind despite the elector insisted on voting for Wang.[3] Lin eventually defeated Wang by a landslide.

Magistrate of Yunlin
CandidatePartyVotes%
Lin Chin-sengKuomintang132,14563.72
Wang Yin-kueiYoung China Party75,22936.28
Total207,374100.00
Valid votes207,37497.17
Invalid/blank votes6,0292.83
Total votes213,403100.00
Registered voters/turnout263,29681.05
Source: [7]

Chiayi

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Magistrate of Chiayi
CandidatePartyVotes%
黃宗焜Kuomintang109,47554.04
李茂松Independent93,10445.96
Total202,579100.00
Valid votes202,57997.46
Invalid/blank votes5,2782.54
Total votes207,857100.00
Registered voters/turnout278,45274.65
Source: [7]

Tainan

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Magistrate of Tainan
CandidatePartyVotes%
胡龍寶Kuomintang178,24868.60
吳拜Independent81,57931.40
Total259,827100.00
Valid votes259,82797.67
Invalid/blank votes6,2112.33
Total votes266,038100.00
Registered voters/turnout314,89384.49
Source: [7]

In Tainan City, Yeh Ting-kuei (葉廷珪) completed a political revenge, being elected to the mayorship again and as the only independent winner of this election after leaving the KMT before the election. His friendliness to grassroot community is believed the crucial factor of his victory.[13]

Mayor of Tainan
CandidatePartyVotes%
Yeh Ting-kueiIndependent62,05658.51
楊請Kuomintang44,00141.49
Total106,057100.00
Valid votes106,05797.50
Invalid/blank votes2,7152.50
Total votes108,772100.00
Registered voters/turnout129,62483.91
Source: [14]

Kaohsiung

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With the unresolved disputes between two powerful local factions, Kuomintang nominated Chen Chi-hsing (陳皆興), an obscure councillor as the candidate. The two factions therefore turned to Yu Teng-fa, who was convinced to prevent an uncontested election.[15]

Irregularities were reported after around 200 voters of one constituency discovered their ballots had been cast by others, who in turn demanded explanation despite police's threats. Results revealed that only two constituents out of 1,063 did not vote. Yu was also defeated unexpectedly.[9]

Following the defeat, Yu filed petition to dispute the election results, which was obstructed by agents of KMT as voters attempted to testify at court. Officials at polling stations were accused by Yu of rigging the election by fingerprinting on the electoral roll "like playing the piano" to get the ballot papers.[16] Nevertheless, the court only convicted two staff members and decided not to charge the others.[15] The court further rejected annulling the results on the basis that "one polling station is not enough to impact the election result".[9] The verdict effectively blocked any vote re-count proposed by Tangwai in the next thirty years. Kuomintang, therefore, was mocked by the public when insisting elections were "honest, fair, and open" for "flagrant in vote-rigging, transparent in ballot-stuffing, and impartial in vote-buying".[15]

Magistrate of Kaohsiung
CandidatePartyVotes%
Chen Chi-hsingKuomintang118,25562.93
Yu Teng-faIndependent69,65037.07
Total187,905100.00
Valid votes187,90596.91
Invalid/blank votes5,9863.09
Total votes193,891100.00
Registered voters/turnout244,92379.16
Source: [17]

Meanwhile, in Kaohsiung City, the Kuomintang was divided between sending incumbent mayor Hsieh Cheng-chiang (謝掙強) and City Council Speaker Chen Wu-chang (陳武璋). Chen at last secured party nomination. For the Tangwai camp, two leading potential candidates reached an agreement, with Yang Chin-hu (楊金虎), delegate of National Assembly, running in mayoral election with CDSP's nomination,[18] while Li Yuan-chan (李源棧), a City Councillor, compete for the seat in Taiwan Provincial Council. With the support from most of the local factions, Chan easily defeated Yang.[19]

Mayor of Kaohsiung
CandidatePartyVotes%
Chen Wu-changKuomintang86,40964.70
Yang Chin-huChina Democratic Socialist Party47,13835.30
Total133,547100.00
Valid votes133,54797.96
Invalid/blank votes2,7872.04
Total votes136,334100.00
Registered voters/turnout168,90780.72
Source: [20]

Pingtung

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Magistrate of Pingtung
CandidatePartyVotes%
林石城Kuomintang179,099100.00
Total179,099100.00
Valid votes179,09992.55
Invalid/blank votes14,4197.45
Total votes193,518100.00
Registered voters/turnout253,09176.46
Source: [7]

Hualien

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Magistrate of Hualien
CandidatePartyVotes%
胡子萍Kuomintang60,08770.87
徐輝國Independent24,70329.13
Total84,790100.00
Valid votes84,79096.84
Invalid/blank votes2,7693.16
Total votes87,559100.00
Registered voters/turnout101,87685.95
Source: [7]

Taitung

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Magistrate of Taitung
CandidatePartyVotes%
黃拓榮Kuomintang53,65983.27
黃忠Independent10,78016.73
Total64,439100.00
Valid votes64,43995.96
Invalid/blank votes2,7164.04
Total votes67,155100.00
Registered voters/turnout77,69886.43
Source: [7][21]

Penghu

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Magistrate of Penghu
CandidatePartyVotes%
Lee Yu-linKuomintang32,434100.00
Total32,434100.00
Valid votes32,43497.68
Invalid/blank votes7722.32
Total votes33,206100.00
Registered voters/turnout39,88183.26
Source: [7]

References

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  • 中華民國選舉概況 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 中央選舉委員會. 1984.
  • 劉, 寧顏 (1993). "卷八．職官志第一冊-文職表篇". 重修臺灣省通志. 臺灣省文獻委員會.
  1. ^ 續修臺北縣志·卷七·選舉志
  2. ^ 李, 壬癸 (2017). 八十自述：珍惜臺灣南島語言的人. Taipei: 中央研究院近代史研究所. p. 41. ISBN 978-986-05-2861-9.
  3. ^ a b "開放歷史－歷史元來如此：不公的地方選舉". Radio Taiwan International (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  4. ^ Central Daily News, 1957-04-22, p.3
  5. ^ 黃, 振超 (1987). 臺北市志·卷三·政制志選舉篇. pp. 255, 257.
  6. ^ 邱, 智信, ed. (2001). 基隆市志·卷三·政治志選舉篇. p. 31.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 臺灣省地方自治誌要. Taichung: 臺灣省地方自治誌要編輯委員會. 1966. p. 418.
  8. ^ 周, 浩治, ed. (2008). 新竹縣志續修（民國四十一年至八十年）·卷四·政事志. pp. 550–551.
  9. ^ a b c 吳, 乃德 (2013). 百年追求：臺灣民主運動的故事 卷二 自由的挫敗. 衛城出版. pp. 134, 147. ISBN 978-986-89626-4-4.
  10. ^ 王, 燈岸 (2018). 王, 鏡玲 (ed.). 磺溪壹老人. 玉山社. pp. 276–311. ISBN 978-986-294-214-7.
  11. ^ 黃, 耀能; 陳, 哲三; 吳, 金標 (1997). 南投縣志·卷二·政事志. p. 392.
  12. ^ "雲縣長競選趨白熱化 國民黨助選活動迭違反選舉法令 已普遍引起縣民非議". 公論報. 1957-04-20. p. 3.
  13. ^ 蘇, 南成 (2014). 大頭市長蘇南成. p. 42.
  14. ^ 王, 振惠; 游, 醒民 (1979). 臺南市志·卷九·選舉志. pp. 181–182.
  15. ^ a b c 彭, 瑞金 (1995). 台灣野生的政治家：余登發. 時報出版. pp. 98–99, 104–105. ISBN 978-986-294-133-1.
  16. ^ 臺灣時報社 (1977). 政海浮沉錄. 臺灣時報社. p. 147.
  17. ^ 臺灣省地方自治誌要. Taichung: 臺灣省地方自治誌要編輯委員會. 1966. p. 415.
  18. ^ "民社黨昨公布參加競選名單". 中華日報. 1957-03-29.
  19. ^ 王, 御風 (2013). 高雄社會領導階層的變遷（1920～1960）. 玉山社. p. 412. ISBN 978-986-294-062-4.
  20. ^ 重修高雄市志·卷二·民政志. 高雄市政府. 1990. p. 162.
  21. ^ 顏, 志光 (2001). 臺東縣史·政事篇. p. 239.
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