Local elections were held for the first time in Taiwan by the Japanese colonial government on 22 November 1935, electing half of the city and township councillors.[1] The other half were appointed by the prefectural governors.
Only men aged 25 and above and who had paid a tax of five yen or more a year were allowed to vote, which was only 28,000 out of the 4 million population.[2] The turnout rate was 95%.[3]
Before 1935, all of the city councilors were appointed by the Japanese colonial government. Since 1921, many Taiwanese political groups, including the Taiwanese People's Party led by Chiang Wei-shui and the Taiwanese Alliance for Home Rule led by Lin Hsien-tang, asked for a Taiwanese council. The Japanese government did not accept, but held city council elections instead as a compromise.
