Attention Taipei voters! Can "PUMA" be worn on the day of voting? The winner will give the answer

The Democratic Progressive Party's Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang's English nickname "Puma" is the same as the well-known sports brand PUMA. When asked by supporters whether he can wear PUMA clothing, hats or shoes to vote on the voting day, the election committee responded today. (File photo)

The nine-in-one election will be held on November 28. According to the provisions of the election and recall law, flags, badges, items or clothing of specific political parties, political groups, or candidates may not be worn or marked on the day of voting. However, the Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang's English nickname "Puma" is the same as the well-known sports brand PUMA. When supporters asked whether he could wear PUMA clothing, hats or shoes to vote on the voting day, the Election Committee responded to this newspaper today. Whether it constitutes an act that helps a specific candidate to be elected should be observed as a whole in accordance with general social norms.

The Central Election Commission pointed out that Article 56, paragraph 2, of the "Public Officials Election and Recall Law" stipulates that no campaigning or election-supporting activities are allowed on polling day. The so-called "campaign or election-support activities" are not limited to the use of campaign slogans and slogans of candidates or their political parties, and whether they constitute actions that help a specific candidate to be elected should be examined as a whole in accordance with general social norms.

The CEC emphasizes that it is judged whether there is an association urging the public to support a specific candidate, and it does not necessarily depend on the fact that the recipient of the message has been affected by the perpetrator's activities, has confirmed or changed his or her voting intention, or has increased the chance of the candidate or the candidate being elected. Whether a specific case violates the provisions of the Law on the Election and Recall of Public Officials will be reviewed by this Council in accordance with the law. Since this is a hypothetical question, we will not comment.