In response to the 2026 nine-in-one local elections at the end of the year, the "Task Force for Investigating Election Interference" of the Chiayi District Prosecutors Office (CDPO) has been fully activated. Given that key coastal battlegrounds, such as the Puxishi mayoral race, face the expiration of the incumbent's term and a fierce clash between established and emerging forces across the Green (DPP), Blue (KMT), and independent camps—coupled with intense competition in the 4th electoral district (Puxi, Liujiao, Dongshi) due to a reshuffling of county council seats—Chief Prosecutor Tsai Tzung-Shi personally led a team today (the 29th) to the Puxi Precinct of the Chiayi County Police Bureau. He provided frontline law enforcement officers with training on the latest anti-bribery regulations and investigative techniques, demonstrating a firm resolve to solve cases through "local mobilization and central joint defense."

Chief Prosecutor Tsai pointed out that the election campaigns for township/city mayors and county councilors within the Puxi Precinct's jurisdiction have reached a white-hot stage. In response to the unique bribing patterns of the local area, the prosecutors and police will cast a dragnet. During the meeting, he specifically directed the strengthening of evidence collection against the following common bribery patterns in local public service elections:

• 1. Bribery under the Guise of Mid-Autumn Festival or Temple Fairs: As the year-end elections draw near, authorities must strictly guard against candidates utilizing Mid-Autumn Festival gift-giving, local temple festivals, or the pretext of sponsoring Ghost Festival activities to distribute illegal luxury goods, gift vouchers, or disguised vote-buying.

• 2. Sham Banquets and Travel Hospitality: Using the guise of "local inspections," "social banquets," or "homecoming gatherings for expatriate villagers" to essentially provide free catering or travel hospitality.

• 3. "Ghost Populations" Intending to Interfere in Elections: In areas where the election race is neck-and-neck, authorities will strictly investigate "ghost populations"—those who set up fictitious households or abnormally move into the district prior to the election—and conduct a comprehensive check on irregular population flows.

The CDPO emphasized that it will strictly adhere to the Ministry of Justice's working guidelines, combining them with the Supreme Prosecutors Office's policy of "pre-phase deployment, mid-phase review, and late-phase implementation" to counter four core challenges with full force:

1. Strictly Investigate Bribery and Violence

Formulate precise crackdowns and issue a stern warning here to all political parties and candidates running in the election: do not defy the law! Judicial authorities have no "legal holidays." Once illegal activities are discovered, in addition to pursuing criminal liability, a lawsuit to invalidate the election victory will be filed simultaneously. Do not leave things to chance.

2. Sever Illegal Gambling Rings

Combine technology-based investigation methods to actively trace sources upward and dismantle underground election gambling rings.

3. Block AI Deepfake Disinformation

Utilize newly amended laws and regulations to establish a real-time identification mechanism to block disinformation at the source.

4. Block Foreign Interference in Elections

Conduct in-depth analyses of human flows, cash flows, and information flows to execute precise strikes.

📞 Public Appeal for Election Integrity

The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office appeals to the public to stand up and jointly safeguard a clean and capable election culture. If you discover any clues of suspected election interference, please call the toll-free hotline: 0800-024099 (Press 4).

Judicial authorities will adopt the highest specifications to protect the identity of informants and issue high rewards:

• Up to NT$20 million for reports on foreign interference in elections.

• Up to NT$10 million for reports on vote-buying/bribery.

• Up to NT$5 million for reports on election gambling rings.