Not Taipei or Kaohsiung! One County/City Has the Highest Campaign Spending Cap in Taiwan's 2026 Mayoral Elections, Champion Exceeds NT$106 Million

Taiwan's Central Election Commission (CEC) held a committee meeting yesterday (17th) to formally discuss and approve the maximum campaign expenditure limits for candidates in the 2026 (115th) municipal and county (city) mayoral elections. According to the latest statistics, the campaign spending caps across all counties and cities in Taiwan are highly correlated with local population totals. New Taipei City leads with a cap of NT$106.55 million, becoming the only election district in Taiwan to exceed NT$100 million. In contrast, Lienchiang County has the lowest cap at NT$30.19 million. The CEC stated that these maximum campaign expenditure limits for the mayoral elections will be officially announced in the election bulletin to be published on August 20.

2026 Mayoral Election Campaign Spending Caps for the 'Six Major Cities' Announced! New Taipei City Tops NT$100 Million

Based on the household registration population statistics and expenditure formula provided by the CEC, the maximum campaign expenditure limits and population data for mayoral candidates in Taiwan's six special municipalities are as follows:

- New Taipei City: Election district population of 4,039,299; maximum campaign expenditure cap of NT$106.55 million. - Taichung City: Election district population of 2,867,758 (second highest among municipalities); maximum campaign expenditure cap of NT$90.149 million. - Kaohsiung City: Election district population of 2,711,406; maximum campaign expenditure cap of NT$87.96 million. - Taipei City: Election district population of 2,427,533; maximum campaign expenditure cap of NT$83.986 million. - Taoyuan City: Election district population of 2,356,302; maximum campaign expenditure cap of NT$82.989 million. - Tainan City: Election district population of 1,848,945; maximum campaign expenditure cap of NT$75.886 million.

Among non-municipalities, Changhua County has the highest cap! Lienchiang County remains the lowest

For other counties and cities, Changhua County has an election district population of 1,204,630 and a maximum campaign expenditure cap of NT$46.865 million, making it the highest among non-municipalities outside the six major cities. In contrast, Lienchiang County has an election district population of only 13,666 and a maximum campaign expenditure cap of NT$30.192 million, the lowest in Taiwan.

Maximum campaign expenditure limits for candidates in the 2026 (115th) municipal and county (city) mayoral elections. (Image/Source: CEC)

How is the per-person spending limit calculated? The 'Expenditure Formula' structure under the Public Officials Election and Recall Act revealed

The CEC explained that the calculation method for the maximum campaign expenditure limits for mayoral candidates in each county and city is strictly based on legal provisions. It primarily follows Article 41, Paragraph 2, Item 2 of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act. The formula can be broken down as follows:

Maximum campaign expenditure = (Total population of the election district × 70% × NT$20) + Fixed amount

The 'fixed amount' in the formula varies by level:

- For municipal mayoral elections: The fixed amount is set at NT$50 million. - For county (city) mayoral elections: The fixed amount is set at NT$30 million.

The CEC further explained that according to the election law, if the calculation results in a fractional amount under NT$1,000, it shall be rounded up to NT$1,000. The 'total population of the election district' used in the formula is based on the household registration population as of the last day of the sixth month preceding the voting month.