1951 Miaoli magisterial by-election

A by-election for Magistrate of Miaoli County, Taiwan was held in July 1951 following the annulled result for general election. Following three rounds of voting, the ruling Kuomintang was confirmed to have held the seat.

1951 Miaoli magisterial by-election

← 1951 8–29 July 1951 1954 →
Turnout	67.52% (final round)
Candidate Lai Shun-sheng Li Pai-pin Party Kuomintang Independent Popular vote (Final round) 75,608 25,162 Percentage 75.03% 24.97%
Magistrate before election Liu Ting-kuo (annulled) Kuomintang Elected Magistrate Lai Shun-sheng Kuomintang

Background

Miaoli County in Taiwan

Miaoli County held the first-ever direct election on 1 April 1951,^[1] with Liu Ting-kuo (劉定國) elected as the first magistrate. On 1 May Liu assumed office on the inauguration ceremony,^[2] while the election result was under challenge by defeated Huang Yun-chin (黃運金) and two other voters on the grounds that Liu was a serving military officer.

Taiwan High Court ruled on 2 May in favour of Huang and that Liu was unduly elected. With the election result annulled, Liu, in office for only one day, became the first disqualified local leader due to election petition.^[3] Ex-magistrate Teng Chung-yen (鄧仲演) became the interim magistrate following the appointment by the chairman of Taiwan Provincial Government.^[4]

Discontent with the verdict, supporters of Liu campaigned for reinstating Liu. Letters were written to President Chiang Kai-shek, Premier Chen Cheng, and to the Legislative Yuan, arguing his candidacy was approved by the authorities beforehand and hence the officials should be responsible, instead of ousting Liu.^[5][6] Liu also appealed to the court, believing the judge cited legal requirements that had not finished parliamentary proceedings.^[7]

Under the electoral laws, a by-election shall be held within thirty days after the vacancy occurred. Taiwan Government then announced the by-election to be held on 8 July 1951.^[8] Despite wishing to run again for the office,^[9] Liu was not enlisted amongst the seven official candidates of the by-election.^[10]

Result

With a turnout at around 38.7%, a re-run was triggered as the threshold was not met. The rainy weather and the busy farming season were said to have discouraged the voting.^[11]

Voters again returned to the polling station on 22 July,^[12] which eventually saw a larger turnout at over 60% following official's urge to vote.^[13] The top two candidates entered the second round held on 29 July.^[14] Lai Shun-sheng (賴順生) from the ruling Kuomintang was elected,^[15] although falling behind in the two previous rounds of voting as Li Pai-pin (李白濱), from the Young China Party who ran as an independent, was forced to withdraw under pressure from the government. He was later appointed as an advisor to the Taiwan Government as compensation.

1951 Miaoli magisterial by-election
(invalid due to low turnout)

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	黃焜發	Independent	13,644	23.84
	Li Pai-pin	Independent	12,063	21.08
	Lai Shun-sheng	Kuomintang	11,570	20.22
	黃發盛	Independent	9,776	17.08
	邱克修	Independent	5,030	8.79
	張子斌	Independent	4,569	7.98
	楊日恩	Independent	571	1.00
Total			57,223	100.00
Valid votes			57,223	97.47
Invalid/blank votes			1,485	2.53
Total votes			58,708	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			151,756	38.69
Source: [11]

1951 Miaoli magisterial by-election

Candidate		Party	First round		Second round
			Votes	%	Votes	%
	Lai Shun-sheng	Kuomintang	29,145	29.99	75,608	75.03
	Li Pai-pin	Independent	30,275	31.15	25,162	24.97
	黃焜發	Independent	29,111	29.96
	黃發盛	Independent	3,211	3.30
	邱克修	Independent	2,117	2.18
	張子斌	Independent	2,080	2.14
	楊日恩	Independent	1,237	1.27
Total			97,176	100.00	100,770	100.00
Valid votes			97,176	97.59	100,770	98.34
Invalid/blank votes			2,395	2.41	1,698	1.66
Total votes			99,571	100.00	102,468	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			151,756	65.61	151,756	67.52
Source: [13][15]

References

1. "苗栗縣首屆民選縣長，明舉行投票選舉". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-03-31. p. 5.
2. "苗栗新竹新舊縣長昨日舉行移接典禮". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-05-02. p. 3.
3. "苗栗縣長劉定國高院判當選無效". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-05-03. p. 4.
4. "民政廳訓令吊銷劉定國當選證書". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-05-05. p. 4.
5. "擁護劉定國選民具呈蔣總統，請准劉氏接任履職". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-05-06. p. 4.
6. "劉定國被判當選無效，縣民上書立院予解釋". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-05-16. p. 4.
7. "劉定國受判當選無効，請求再審訴狀全文". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-06-12. p. 5.
8. "苗栗縣長重行複選，決定七月八日舉行". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-05-06. p. 5.
9. "苗栗縣長再選揭開序幕，劉定國領簽署書". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-03-31. p. 4.
10. "苗栗縣長候選人政見". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-07-05. p. 4.
11. "苗栗縣長未選出，投票率甚低僅三成八，由黃焜發李白斌複選". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-07-09. p. 4.
12. "苗栗縣長今天重選，雲林臺南複選鄉鎮長". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-07-22. p. 4.
13. "苗栗縣長昨重選投票率六成以上，前二名李白濱賴順生舉行複選，嘉、南、雲複選鄉鎮長". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-07-23. p. 4.
14. "苗栗縣長今天複選，李白濱賴順生逐鹿". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-07-29. p. 4.
15. "苗栗縣長順利產生賴順生當選，投票率達六成七以上". 臺灣民聲日報. 1951-07-30. p. 4.