The Taiwanese local elections of 2018 are scheduled to be held on 24 November 2018. Local elections are held across the country, with elections to 22 local authorities.
This local election is the first test for the incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen since assuming office in 2016. The results may affect the next legislative and presidential election in 2020. The Central Election Commission opened election registration to candidates on 27 August 2018.
Referendum
A multi-question referendum will be held 24 November 2018 alongside local elections. The referendum will be the first since the December 2017 reform to the Referendum Act which reduced the barrier to submitting questions to the ballot; under the new system, signatures from 1.5 percent of the electorate (around 280,000 people) are required to successfully put a question on the ballot.
At least five of the questions reviewed or approved by the Central Election Commission (CEC) are related to LGBT rights in Taiwan, especially same-sex marriage and LGBT sex education; others deal with international games representation and nuclear power. At least three other proposed questions were held in review after the initial seven were announced, and the final two were announced on October 16. The CEC stated that it had found proof of forged signatures in all questions submitted and will pursue legal action against those responsible.
Sources and further reading:
Thousands rally in Taiwan, call for referendum on independence from China
Taiwan Set for Referendum Overkill
https://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/taiwan-referendum-overkill/
China attempting to meddle in Taiwan elections: intelligence chief
http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201810220013.aspx