View source for 1996 Taiwanese presidential election

{{short description|none}}
{{Infobox election
| country = Taiwan
| type = presidential
| registered = 14,313,288
| turnout = 76.04%
| previous_election = 1990 Taiwanese presidential election
| previous_year = 1990
| next_election = 2000 Taiwanese presidential election
| next_year = 2000
| election_date = 23 March 1996
| image1 = 李總統登輝先生玉照 (cropped).jpg
| nominee1 = '''[[Lee Teng-hui]]'''
| party1 = Kuomintang
| running_mate1 = '''[[Lien Chan]]'''
| popular_vote1 = '''5,813,699'''
| percentage1 = '''54.00%'''
| image2 = 彭明敏出席著作簽書分享會.jpg
| nominee2 = [[Peng Ming-min|Peng&nbsp;Ming-min]]
| party2 = Democratic Progressive Party
| running_mate2 = [[Frank Hsieh]]
| popular_vote2 = 2,274,586
| percentage2 = 21.13%
| image4 = 林洋港省主席 (9to12).jpg
| nominee4 = [[Lin Yang-kang|Lin&nbsp;Yang-kang]]
| party4 = Independent politician
| colour4 = fdd731
| running_mate4 = [[Hau Pei-tsun]]
| popular_vote4 = 1,603,790
| percentage4 = 14.90%
| image5 = 陳履安院長.jpg
| nominee5 = [[Chen Li-an]]
| party5 = Independent politician
| running_mate5 = [[Wang Ching-feng]]
| popular_vote5 = 1,074,044
| percentage5 = 9.98%
| map_image = {{Switcher
| [[File:ROC 1996 Presidential Election County level.svg|300px]]
| Results by county-level unit
| [[File:ROC 1996 Presidential Election Township level.svg|300px]]
| Results by township-level unit
}}
| title = President
| before_election = [[Lee Teng-hui]]
| after_election = [[Lee Teng-hui]]
| before_party = Kuomintang
| after_party = Kuomintang
}}Presidential elections were held in [[Taiwan]] on 23 March 1996.<ref>{{cite web |title=Central Election Commission:::Presidential Elections::: |url=https://web.cec.gov.tw/english/cms/pe |website=Central Election Commission |access-date=9 January 2020 |language=en |archive-date=7 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007193707/https://web.cec.gov.tw/english/cms/pe |url-status=live }}</ref> It was [[Taiwan]]'s first [[Direct election|direct presidential election]], officially the Republic of China. In the previous eight elections, the president and vice president had been chosen in a ballot of the deputies of the [[National Assembly (Republic of China)|National Assembly]], in accordance with the [[Constitution of the Republic of China|1947 constitution]]. These were the first free and direct elections in the [[history of Taiwan]].

[[Lee Teng-hui]] was re-elected [[President of the Republic of China|President]], and [[Lien Chan]] as Vice President. Lee stood as the candidate for the ruling [[Kuomintang]]. He won a majority of 54% of the votes cast. His election followed [[Third Taiwan Strait Crisis|missile tests]] by the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC). These attempted to intimidate and discourage the Taiwanese electorate from supporting Lee; however, the tactic backfired. Voter turnout was 76.0%.<ref>[[Dieter Nohlen]], Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II'', p558 {{ISBN|0-19-924959-8}}</ref>

==Candidates==
The ruling [[Kuomintang]] nominated President [[Lee Teng-hui]] in August 1995 at its 14th Party Congress after plans to institute a closed primary system by his opponents were thwarted.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Copper|first1=John Franklin|title=Taiwan's Mid-1990s Elections: Taking the Final Steps to Democracy|date=1998|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780275962074|page=104|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShTkbedObTQC&q=kuomintang+nominate+lee+teng+hui+1996+closed+primary&pg=PA104|access-date=2020-11-23|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412120920/https://books.google.com/books?id=ShTkbedObTQC&q=kuomintang+nominate+lee+teng+hui+1996+closed+primary&pg=PA104|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Clough|first1=Ralph N.|title=Cooperation Or Conflict in the Taiwan Strait?|date=1999|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9780847693269|page=4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OmkdcFUxP6EC&q=kuomintang+nominate+lee+teng+hui+1996&pg=PA4|access-date=2020-11-23|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412120941/https://books.google.com/books?id=OmkdcFUxP6EC&q=kuomintang+nominate+lee+teng+hui+1996&pg=PA4|url-status=live}}</ref> As his running mate, Lee chose [[Lien Chan]], who had attempted to resign as [[Premier of the Republic of China]], to join Lee's ticket.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Trenhaile|first1=John|title=The New Cabinet|url=http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=54929&ctNode=2198&mp=9|access-date=12 October 2016|work=Taiwan Today|date=1 August 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915152001/http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=54929&ctNode=2198&mp=9|archive-date=15 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Far East and Australasia 2003|date=2002|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9781857431339|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LclscNCTz9oC&q=Lien+chan+resign+premier+vice+president&pg=PA391|access-date=2020-11-23|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412120919/https://books.google.com/books?id=LclscNCTz9oC&q=Lien+chan+resign+premier+vice+president&pg=PA391|url-status=live}}</ref> Lee did not accept Lien's resignation, as Lien's potential successors to the premiership stood little chance of legislative confirmation.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Tsang|editor1-first=Steve|editor2-last=Tien|editor2-first=Hung-mao|editor-link2=Tien Hung-mao|title=Democratisation in Taiwan: Implications for China|date=1999|publisher=Springer|isbn=9781349272792|page=155|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=feywCwAAQBAJ&q=Lien+chan+resign+premier+vice+president&pg=PA155|access-date=2020-11-23|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412120920/https://books.google.com/books?id=feywCwAAQBAJ&q=Lien+chan+resign+premier+vice+president&pg=PA155|url-status=live}}</ref> After the election, the [[Judicial Yuan]] allowed Lien to keep both posts.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jayasuriya|first1=Kanishka|title=Law, Capitalism and Power in Asia: The Rule of Law and Legal Institutions|date=2006|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134738267|page=233|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SjmEAgAAQBAJ&q=Lien+chan+resign+premier+vice+president&pg=PA233|access-date=2020-11-23|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412120922/https://books.google.com/books?id=SjmEAgAAQBAJ&q=Lien+chan+resign+premier+vice+president&pg=PA233|url-status=live}}</ref>

The opposition [[Democratic Progressive Party]] conducted an extensive nomination process: the presidential candidate was selected after two rounds of voting and fifty public debates between the two finalists. [[Hsu Hsin-liang]], [[Lin Yi-hsiung]], [[You Ching]], and [[Peng Ming-min]] contended for this position. The seventy-two-year-old Peng emerged victorious and nominated legislator [[Frank Hsieh]] as his running mate. Peng opposed trade with [[mainland China]] unless the PRC promised to "treat Taiwan as an equal." Though he argued that the [[One-China policy]] would lead to another [[February 28 Incident]], he took the position that Taiwan was already ''de facto'' independent, so a formal declaration of [[Taiwan independence]] was unnecessary unless the PRC attacked. However, Peng rejected [[Chinese unification|unification with the mainland]] outright, describing the notion as "suicide" and "self-destruction."<ref>{{cite news|title=Deserting 'Independence'|url=http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/95/1027/nat3.html|access-date=3 June 2016|publisher=CNN|date=27 October 1995|archive-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807075528/http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/95/1027/nat3.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Former Taiwan Provincial Governor [[Lin Yang-kang]] ran independently with former Premier [[Hau Pei-tsun]] as his running mate.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sheng|first1=Virginia|title=Lin names former premier, Hau, as running mate for March vote|url=http://www.taiwantoday.tw/fp.asp?xItem=13743&CtNode=451|access-date=25 September 2016|work=Taiwan Today|date=17 November 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927111854/http://www.taiwantoday.tw/fp.asp?xItem=13743&CtNode=451|archive-date=27 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> After the pair registered as candidates, they were endorsed by the [[New Party (Taiwan)|New Party]]. Both Lin and Hau were expelled from the Kuomintang on 13 December 1995.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Schubert|editor1-first=Gunter|title=Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Taiwan|date=2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317669708|page=57|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jhIzDAAAQBAJ&q=Lin+Yang-kang+Hau+pei-tsun+expulsion&pg=PA57}}</ref> They supported the One-China principle and favored opening direct links with the mainland.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tempest|first1=Rone|title=Defiant Taiwan Puts Beijing in Difficult Straits|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-24-mn-50762-story.html|access-date=25 September 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=24 March 1996|archive-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927073525/http://articles.latimes.com/1996-03-24/news/mn-50762_1_taiwan-strait|url-status=live}}</ref> They argued that the KMT, led by Lee, had abandoned all attempts at [[Chinese unification|unification]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tyler|first1=Patrick E.|title=TENSION IN TAIWAN: THE POLITICS;War Games Play Well for Taiwan's Leader|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/22/world/tension-in-taiwan-the-politics-war-games-play-well-for-taiwan-s-leader.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|access-date=25 September 2016|work=New York Times|date=22 March 1996|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618203331/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/22/world/tension-in-taiwan-the-politics-war-games-play-well-for-taiwan-s-leader.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref>

A second independent ticket consisted of former Control Yuan President [[Chen Li-an]] for President and Control Yuan member [[Wang Ching-feng]] for Vice President. Chen Li-an, the son of former Premier and Vice President [[Chen Cheng]], used his [[Buddhist]] background (lay leader of the [[Fo Guang Shan]] order) and stressed moral purity and honest government. He walked wearing a farmer's straw hat for eighteen days to spread his views.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Roy|first1=Denny|title=Taiwan: A Political History|date=2003|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=9780801488054|page=199|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DNqasVI-gWMC&q=Chen+Li-an+eighteen+days&pg=PA199|access-date=2020-11-23|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412120911/https://books.google.com/books?id=DNqasVI-gWMC&q=Chen+Li-an+eighteen+days&pg=PA199|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Copper|first1=John Franklin|title=Taiwan's Mid-1990s Elections: Taking the Final Steps to Democracy|date=1998|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780275962074|page=106|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShTkbedObTQC&q=Chen+Li-an+eighteen+days&pg=PA106}}</ref>

Former Taipei mayor [[Kao Yu-shu]] declared an end to his candidacy in January 1996.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Copper|first1=John Franklin|title=Taiwan's Mid-1990s Elections: Taking the Final Steps to Democracy|date=1998|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780275962074|page=99|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShTkbedObTQC&q=Kao+Yu-shu+1996+president&pg=PA99|access-date=2020-11-23|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412120924/https://books.google.com/books?id=ShTkbedObTQC&q=Kao+Yu-shu+1996+president&pg=PA99|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Sheng|first1=Virginia|title=Independents fault sign-up rules; One presidential hopeful abandons race in protest|url=http://www.taiwantoday.tw/fp.asp?xItem=13887&CtNode=122|access-date=16 September 2016|work=Taiwan Today|date=12 January 1996|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816150453/http://www.taiwantoday.tw/fp.asp?xItem=13887&CtNode=122|archive-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> Feminist writer [[Shih Chi-ching]] also bid for the presidency, selecting Wu Yue-chen as her vice president. However, Shih and Wu's campaign ended after the Judicial Yuan ruled against them, finding that the ticket failed to meet the endorsement quota.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Han Cheung|title=Taiwan in Time:The 'Divorce Queen'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2017/01/08/2003662714|access-date=8 January 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=8 January 2017|archive-date=8 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108143218/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2017/01/08/2003662714|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Mudslinging]] was rampant between the remaining four presidential tickets. The KMT claimed that the Taiwanese mafia had amputated Peng's arm to recoup gambling debts. However, Peng had lost his arm in an American air raid on Nagasaki during World War II.<ref name="philly"/> Independent candidate Lin Yang-kang alleged that Lee Teng-hui was a member of the [[Chinese Communist Party]], which he denied at the time, but later admitted involvement in a 2002 interview.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schmetzer|first1=Uli|title=Taiwanese Exercising Democracy|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/03/23/taiwanese-exercising-democracy/|access-date=25 September 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|date=23 March 1996|archive-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927054133/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-03-23/news/9603230063_1_mainland-affairs-council-taiwan-strait-president-lee-teng-hui|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Mei-Chun|title=Lee admits to fling with Communism|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/11/08/0000178746|access-date=26 October 2014|publisher=Taipei Times|date=8 November 2002|archive-date=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026033015/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/11/08/0000178746|url-status=live}}</ref> The Kuomintang's website was also subject to cyberattacks. Chen Li-an criticized every other candidate for their advanced age.<ref name="philly">{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Jennifer|title=Taiwan Campaigning Has A Familiar Ring|url=http://articles.philly.com/1996-03-21/news/25636813_1_kmt-peng-lin-yang-kang|access-date=3 June 2016|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=21 March 1996|archive-date=23 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623221300/http://articles.philly.com/1996-03-21/news/25636813_1_kmt-peng-lin-yang-kang|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis==
{{main|Third Taiwan Strait Crisis}}
From March 8 to March 15, the [[People's Liberation Army]] sent [[ballistic missiles]]  within {{convert|25|to|35|nmi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}} (just inside the ROC's territorial waters) off the ports of Keelung and Kaohsiung. This action was intended to intimidate the Taiwanese electorate into voting against Lee and Peng, which Beijing branded "absolutely identical in attempting to divide the motherland."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Roy|first1=Denny|title=Taiwan: A Political History|date=2003|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=9780801488054|page=198|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DNqasVI-gWMC&pg=PA198|access-date=2016-06-03|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412120922/https://books.google.com/books?id=DNqasVI-gWMC&pg=PA198|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, Chen Li-an warned, "If you vote for Lee Teng-hui, you are choosing war."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Crowell |first1=Todd |last2=Bodeen |first2=Chris |title=Confrontations |url=http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/96/0315/nat6.html |access-date=3 June 2016 |publisher=CNN |date=15 March 1996 |archive-date=7 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807081055/http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/96/0315/nat6.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The crisis ended when two U.S. [[aircraft carrier]] battle groups were positioned near Taiwan.<ref name="jstor">{{cite journal|author1-link=Wu Yu-shan|last1=Wu|first1=Yu-Shan|title=Taiwan's Domestic Politics and Cross-Strait Relations|journal=The China Journal|date=January 2005|volume=53|issue=53|pages=35–60 |doi=10.2307/20065991 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001195300/http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/research/researchcentres/cpd/easg/easg_calendar/taiwan27s_domestic_politics_and_cross-strait_relations.pdf |jstor=20065991 |s2cid=145301834|url=http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/research/researchcentres/cpd/easg/easg_calendar/taiwan27s_domestic_politics_and_cross-strait_relations.pdf |archive-date=1 October 2016}}</ref>

Lee, who told his people to resist "[[state terrorism]],"<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chinoy|first1=Mike|title=Chinese premier urges U.S. not to 'aggravate' situation|url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9603/china_taiwan/17/|access-date=25 September 2016|publisher=CNN.com|date=17 March 1996|archive-date=25 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325125657/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9603/china_taiwan/17/|url-status=live}}</ref> was seen as a strong leader who could negotiate with the PRC. Because of this, many constituents from southern Taiwan who favored [[Taiwan independence movement|independence]] voted for him.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tyler|first1=Patrick E.|title=Taiwan's leader wins its election and a mandate|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/24/world/taiwan-s-leader-wins-its-election-and-a-mandate.html|access-date=25 September 2016|work=New York Times|date=24 March 1996|archive-date=9 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309051533/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/24/world/taiwan-s-leader-wins-its-election-and-a-mandate.html|url-status=live}}</ref> One Taipei newspaper, ''[[United Daily News]],'' reported that up to 14 to 15 percent of Lee's 54% vote share came from DPP supporters.<ref name="bellows">{{cite book|last1=Bellows|first1=Thomas J.|title="The March 1996 Elections in the Republic of China on Taiwan" - American Journal of Chinese Studies (Vol. 3, No. 2, October 1996)|location=|isbn=|pages=243}}</ref>

==Results==
{{Election results
|party4=Independent
|cand4=[[Chen Li-an]]
|vp4=[[Wang Ching-feng]]
|votes4=1074044	

|party1=[[Kuomintang]]
|cand1=[[Lee Teng-hui]]
|vp1=[[Lien Chan]]
|votes1=5813699	

|party2=[[Democratic Progressive Party]]
|cand2=[[Peng Ming-min]]
|vp2=[[Frank Hsieh]]
|votes2=2274586

|party3=[[Independent politician|Independent]]
|cand3=[[Lin Yang-kang]]
|vp3=[[Hau Pei-tsun]]
|votes3=1603790

|invalid=117160
|electorate=14313288
|source=[https://www.cec.gov.tw/english/cms/pe/24830 CEC]
}}

=== By administrative division ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: auto; background: #F9F9F9; border: 1px #AAAAAA solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; line-height: 1em; text-align: right;"
! rowspan="4" |Subdivision
! rowspan="4" |Electorate
! colspan="2" |1
! colspan="2" |2
! colspan="2" |3
! colspan="2" |4
! rowspan="4" |Invalid
! rowspan="4" |Turnout
! rowspan="4" |Margin
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Chen Li-an]]
! colspan="2" |[[Lee Teng-hui]] [[File:Elected candidate symbol (voting stamp, Taiwan).svg|20x20px]]
! colspan="2" |[[Peng Ming-min]]
! colspan="2" |[[Lin Yang-kang]]
|-
! colspan="2" style="border-bottom:4px solid #C31D12;" | [[Wang Ching-feng]]
! colspan="2" style="border-bottom:4px solid #000099;" | [[Lien Chan]] [[File:Elected candidate symbol (voting stamp, Taiwan).svg|20x20px]]
! colspan="2" style="border-bottom:4px solid #1B9431;" | [[Frank Hsieh]]
! colspan="2" style="border-bottom:4px solid #FFDA00;" | [[Hau Pei-tsun]]
|-
! style="width:75px;" | Votes
! style="width:60px;" | %
! style="width:75px;" | Votes
! style="width:60px;" | %
! style="width:75px;" | Votes
! style="width:60px;" | %
! style="width:75px;" | Votes
! style="width:60px;" | %
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Taipei|Taipei City]]
| 1,842,261
| 165,541
| 11.89%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|541,721}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|38.90%}}'''
| 338,895
| 24.34%
| 346,272
| 24.87%
| 12,522
| 76.26%
| 202,826
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[New Taipei City|Taipei County]]
| 2,166,016
| 186,973
| 11.37%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|793,718}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|48.28%}}'''
| 370,728
| 22.55%
| 292,541
| 17.79%
| 17,074
| 76.69%
| 422,990
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Keelung|Keelung City]]
| 254,276
| 25,950
| 13.42%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|97,223}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|50.27%}}'''
| 34,256
| 17.71%
| 35,978
| 18.60%
| 1,747
| 76.75%
| 62,967
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Yilan County, Taiwan|Yilan County]]
| 313,770
| 20,573
| 8.94%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|126,405}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|54.92%}}'''
| 68,044
| 29.56%
| 15,154
| 6.58%
| 2,063
| 74.02%
| 58,361
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Taoyuan, Taiwan|Taoyuan County]]
| 985,365
| 91,048
| 12.02%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|423,198}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|55.85%}}'''
| 114,901
| 15.16%
| 128,607
| 16.97%
| 9,955
| 77.91%
| 308,297
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Hsinchu County]]
| 270,365
| 24,746
| 11.67%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|140,321}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|66.20%}}'''
| 23,555
| 11.11%
| 23,342
| 11.01%
| 3,051
| 79.53%
| 116,766
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Hsinchu|Hsinchu City]]
| 226,574
| 22,603
| 12.93%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|93,812}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|53.65%}}'''
| 28,281
| 16.17%
| 30,155
| 17.25%
| 2,031
| 78.07%
| 65,531
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Miaoli County]]
| 376,581
| 29,884
| 10.31%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|202,593}}''' 
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|69.87%}}'''
| 31,036
| 10.70%
| 26,459
| 9.12%
| 3,795
| 78.01%
| 171,557
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Taichung County]]
| 897,357
| 71,030
| 10.01%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|426,668}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|60.15%}}'''
| 115,034
| 16.22%
| 96,594
| 13.62%
| 9,099
| 80.06%
| 311,634
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Taichung|Taichung City]]
| 555,794
| 46,844
| 11.11%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|195,865}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|46.45%}}'''
| 82,416
| 19.55%
| 96,509
| 22.89%
| 4,084
| 76.60%
| 113,449
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Changhua County]]
| 841,294
| 62,138
| 9.70%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|407,820}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|63.63%}}'''
| 116,154
| 18.12%
| 54,776
| 8.55%
| 8,412
| 77.18%
| 291,666
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #FFDA00" | [[Nantou County]]
| 371,630
| 14,552
| 5.31%
| 86,357
| 31.52%
| 45,556
| 16.63%
| style="background:#FFDA00;" | '''{{white|127,537}}'''
| style="background:#FFDA00;" | '''{{white|46.55%}}'''
| 2,786
| 74.48%
| 40,801
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Yunlin County]]
| 521,592
| 25,914
| 7.22%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|237,871}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|66.29%}}'''
| 68,785
| 19.17%
| 26,247
| 7.31%
| 4,343
| 69.63%
| 169,086
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Chiayi County]]
| 398,362
| 17,515
| 6.37%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|180,709}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|65.70%}}'''
| 63,101
| 22.94%
| 13,716
| 4.99%
| 3,105
| 69.82%
| 117,608
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Chiayi|Chiayi City]]
| 175,137
| 12,761
| 9.90%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|60,628}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|47.04%}}'''
| 42,984
| 33.35%
| 12,515
| 9.71%
| 1,130
| 74.24%
| 17,644
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Tainan County]]
| 742,953
| 41,263
| 7.48%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|347,825}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|63.05%}}'''
| 134,969
| 24.47%
| 27,590
| 5.00%
| 5,686
| 75.02%
| 212,856
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Tainan|Tainan City]]
| 469,463
| 39,058
| 10.97%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|201,436}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|56.58%}}'''
| 84,929
| 23.85%
| 30,603
| 8.60%
| 3,136
| 76.50%
| 116,507
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Kaohsiung|Kaohsiung City]]
| 952,202
| 68,158
| 9.29%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|371,391}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|50.62%}}'''
| 200,406
| 27.32%
| 93,691
| 12.77%
| 7,089
| 77.79%
| 170,985
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Kaohsiung County]]
| 809,157
| 47,790
| 7.64%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|374,386}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|59.88%}}'''
| 151,943
| 24.30%
| 51,139
| 8.18%
| 6,210
| 78.04%
| 222,443
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Pingtung County]]
| 623,207
| 26,644
| 5.78%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|289,812}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|62.91%}}'''
| 117,283
| 25.46%
| 26,902
| 5.84%
| 4,752
| 74.68%
| 172,529
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Taitung County]]
| 176,313
| 8,160
| 7.52%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|74,211}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|68.42%}}'''
| 14,506
| 13.37%
| 11,584
| 10.68%
| 1,709
| 62.49%
| 59,705
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Hualien County]]
| 245,715
| 14,568
| 8.91%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|104,740}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|64.05%}}'''
| 18,383
| 11.24%
| 25,836
| 15.80%
| 2,364
| 67.51%
| 86,357
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Penghu|Penghu County]]
| 63,533
| 4,170
| 10.29%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|25,367}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|62.61%}}'''
| 8,070
| 19.92%
| 2,907
| 7.18%
| 563
| 64.65%
| 17,297
|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Kinmen|Kinmen County]]
| 30,476
| 5,805
| 28.09%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|8,401}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|40.65%}}'''
| 336
| 1.63%
| 6,123
| 29.63%
| 401
| 69.12%
| 8,065
|-
! style="border-right:6px solid #000099" | [[Matsu Islands|Lienchiang County]]
| 3,895
| 356
| 13.56%
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|1,221}}'''
| style="background:#000099;" | '''{{white|46.51%}}'''
| 35
| 1.33%
| 1,013
| 38.59%
| 53
| 68.75%
| 1,186
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="13" | Source: [https://db.cec.gov.tw/ElecTable/Election/ElecTickets?dataType=tickets&typeId=ELC&subjectId=P0&legisId=00&themeId=c818e628012243a0ea7eb3c3c3b81565&dataLevel=N&prvCode=00&cityCode=000&areaCode=00&deptCode=000&liCode=0000 CEC Overview Table] [https://db.cec.gov.tw/Visual/President?dataLevel=N&legisId=00&typeId=ELC&subjectId=P0&themeId=c818e628012243a0ea7eb3c3c3b81565 CEC Visual Query]
|}

===Maps===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right"
|{{Switcher|[[File:1996 Taiwan Presidential Election County level with County border.svg|right|300px]]|Result|[[File:1996 Taiwan Presidential Election, Peng Ming-min County level with County border.svg|right|300px]]|Peng Ming-min|[[File:1996 Taiwan Presidential Election, Lee Teng-hui County level with County border.svg|right|300px]]|Lee Teng-hui|[[File:1996 Taiwan Presidential Election, Lin Yang-kang County level with County border.svg|right|300px]]|Lin Yang-kang}}Result by County level
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right"
|{{Switcher|[[File:1996 Taiwan Presidential Election Township level with County border.svg|right|300px]]|Result|[[File:1996 Taiwan Presidential Election, Peng Ming-min Township level with County border.svg|right|300px]]|Peng Ming-min|[[File:1996 Taiwan Presidential Election, Lee Teng-hui Township level with County border.svg|right|300px]]|Lee Teng-hui|[[File:1996 Taiwan Presidential Election, Lin Yang-kang Township level with County border.svg|right|300px]]|Lin Yang-kang}}Result by Township level
|}
{|
|[[File:ROC_1996_Presidential_Election_Township_level_(2).svg|250px|thumb|Vote leader and vote share in township-level districts.]]
|[[File:1996ROCPresident.svg|250px|thumb|Vote leader in county-level districts.]]
|[[File:Taiwan presidential election map detailed 1996.svg|250px|thumb|National winner vote lead over national runner-up by township/city or district{{efn|Lee did not lead in all township-level units.}}]]
|}
*Blue: Lee-Lien ticket; Yellow: Lin-Hau ticket

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Taiwanese elections}}
{{Republic of China presidential elections}}

[[Category:1996 elections in Taiwan|President]]
[[Category:1996 elections in Asia|Taiwan]]
[[Category:Presidential elections in Taiwan]]
[[Category:March 1996 in Asia|Taiwan]]