Taiwan's election commission is bracing for outside meddling ahead of the year-end vote, a warning aimed squarely at the frontline islands closest to China.

• Election chief Yu Ying-lung named possible interference by hostile foreign forces as one of six big challenges facing this year's vote.
• Kinmen, which sits just off China's coast, was told to stay especially alert and prepare defenses.
• The other challenges include holding referendums alongside the election, absentee voting reform, referendum cases sent over by the legislature, and voting rights for Chinese spouses.
• AI deepfake video and audio were flagged as a fresh threat to the campaign.
• Officials were told to stay neutral toward all parties and candidates, with a goal of zero mistakes.

Outlook: With about 100 days left before the vote, expect tighter scrutiny of disinformation and foreign influence, especially around Kinmen.