Elections are the cornerstone of democratic politics, offering the public the opportunity to choose their representatives and government officials, thereby providing the government with legitimacy and a mandate for its actions. Consequently, elections are among the most prominent phenomena in democratic politics. The quality of elections directly influences the strengths of democratic governance.

    Since the relocation of our central government to Taiwan, direct elections have been held starting from 1950. As of May 1994, there have been 96 different types of elections for various central and local government positions. Elections have had several important positive impact on our political development: (1) Talent Selection: Many of today's political elites have gradually emerged and ascended into higher decision-making circles through the electoral process. (2) Increased Voter Autonomy: Over several decades of elections, voters have evolved from a passive role to active political participants. (3) Development of Party Politics: Opposition parties gained significant strength from the late 1970s to the 1980s. For example, in the 1992 Legislative Yuan elections, the Kuomintang (KMT) received 60.5% of the votes while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) received 31.9%. However, in the 1993 local elections, the KMT's vote share dropped to 47%, while the DPP's rose to 41%, reducing the gap between the two parties to just 6%. The KMT's previous dominance as a single party has ended and with it, the authoritarian rule of the past has gradually diminished, paving the way for a more democratic and freer society. (4) Legislative Power as a Check on Executive Power: The Legislative Yuan was once mocked as the "Legislative Bureau of the Executive Yuan" or the "Executive Yuan's rubber stamp." However, following the 1989 elections, the structure of the Legislative Yuan changed, with the DPP securing 21 seats, giving it the ability to propose legislation and exert considerable influence on the executive branch. After the 1992 elections for the second cohort of legislators, the DPP held 50 of the 161 seats, accounting for about one-third of the total seats, playing a crucial role in legislative decisions. Consequently, the national decision-making focus has shifted to the democratically grounded Legislative Yuan. From the above summary, we can understand that elections play a pivotal role in the political changes and democratization of Taiwan today.

    The study of electoral issues can be broadly divided into two main categories: the first focuses on electoral systems and the second on voting behavior. Domestic research on electoral systems is relatively sparse, indicating a need for scholars to actively expand this area of study. In contrast, research on voting behavior is more abundant. Starting with Professor Wen-hai Tsou in 1964, there has been significant development in this field since the 1970s. Advances have been made in sampling methods, questionnaire design, the rigor of research processes, statistical analysis techniques and the interpretation of research results, far surpassing the research of the 1960s and 1970s. Additionally, since the 1980s, a group of young scholars from various disciplines, both domestic and international, has joined this research field, leading to substantial achievements in the study of voting behavior.

    Although there has been a considerable accumulation of research on electoral issues in our country, scholars in this field often feel the lack of public platforms for dissemination, opportunities for mutual learning and exchange. Many research reports end up either shelved or appreciated in isolation, lacking communication and interaction, with limited exposure to the broader public. Recognizing this, friends involved in the Election Study Center at National Chengchi University have proposed creating this electoral research journal to provide interested scholars with opportunities for mutual discussion and collaboration.

    This journal primarily focuses on electoral issues, including but not limited to electoral systems, voting behavior and the relationship between elections and political parties. We welcome academic research on elections both domestic and international and from political science as well as other disciplines. We invite submissions from scholars worldwide. This journal is an open platform and we hope that it will continue to exist for a long time.

    This publication owes its smooth production primarily to Professor Fei-lung Lei, who tirelessly established this center and to whom we extend our utmost respect. We also express gratitude to the over forty scholars who have actively supported and encouraged our center's research efforts over the past decade. Special thanks go to our advisory committee members Fei-luag Lei, Fu Hu, Gui-lin Xu, Jiun-han Tsao, Te-yu Chen, Mau-kuei Chang, Wen-chun Chen, I-chou Liu and Szu-yin Ho. They not only played a crucial role in the decision to publish this journal but also provided invaluable insights for our future endeavors.

     After years of planning, this journal was strategically launched during National Chengchi University's 67th-anniversary celebrations and Taiwan's 40th-anniversary of restoration, highlighting the support and resources provided by the university since the establishment of our center. We are deeply grateful for their assistance, which allowed us to develop from scratch.

     At the beginning of this publication, we offer only a few words of introduction and eagerly await guidance and feedback from esteemed scholars.

　

With warm regards,

Election Study Center, Chair

Yih-yan Chen

May 1994