Keelung’s i-Voting online polling platform is scheduled to officially launch today, allowing residents to submit proposals on issues to be voted on by the public, following deliberation and approval by city officials and a public participatory committee.
The platform had a one-month trial that started on March 22.
Keelung Mayor George Hsieh (謝國樑) said the platform was born out of a desire among residents to participate in public affairs, which is the trend throughout Taiwan’s administrative regions.
Photo: Lu Hsien-hsiu, Taipei Times
Keelung is the 18th out of Taiwan’s 22 local governments to establish the platform, Hsieh said, adding that its launch in Keelung fulfilled a campaign promise.
“Starting tomorrow [today], the public will be able to submit proposals and discuss existing proposals,” he told a news conference in Keelung yesterday. “Through voting and deliberation, the public can reach a consensus on policy issues that affect them.”
While residents might have opinions on policy issues that differ from city government officials, “it is important for the public to participate and vote,” Hsieh said.
Proposals submitted through the platform would be reviewed and must garner the support of 1,500 people within 45 days to be considered for further discussion, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Li-chan (林麗蟬) said.
After the conditions are met, the proposal would be subjected to public review and discussion through the platform before possible implementation, Lin said.
The platform could also be used for “participatory budgeting,” allowing the city to submit budget proposals for the public to vote on, she said.
Keelung Department of Civil Affairs Director Chang Yuan-hsiang (張淵翔) said that the platform would be launched preloaded with three questionnaires for public discussion.
The questionnaires ask for opinions about music played by garbage trucks, a proposed reduction in spending on campaign advertising and beautifying public construction sites with greenery, Chang said.
Borough wardens could also submit proposals, he said, adding that suggestions included playing music in the city’s proposed transit system.
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