Taiwan's November local elections are now open for candidate registration, and the first names are already on the books in Yunlin — a routine but telling start to the race.

• Registration for the nine-in-one local elections opened August 31 and runs through September 4, with voting set for November 28.
• Lawyer Wu Ping-hui signed up to run for Yunlin County magistrate, after losing a bid for Tainan mayor in 2022 and earlier runs for legislature and a Huwei township by-election.
• County councillor candidate Chen Yi-chen was first in line, waiting outside the election office before 7am to file for re-election.
• The KMT's pick for Douliu city mayor, Huang Yu-mei, registered with the local party chief and dozens of supporters in tow.
• Yunlin alone will fill 686 seats, from magistrate and councillors down to village heads.

Outlook: More candidates will file over the next few days, and the shape of the Yunlin magistrate race should be clear once the registration window closes.