Grassroots elections in Taiwan's Pingtung County are almost entirely dominated by independents, a reminder to both major parties that when it comes to village and borough chief posts, a party label is of little help.

• Across Pingtung County's 443 villages and boroughs, 841 people have registered as candidates, 820 of them independents — a share of 97 percent.

• The Kuomintang has nominated 20 candidates, while the Democratic Progressive Party has just one: Cheng Shih-hsuan, chief of Chiatung Village in Ligang Township, who is seeking re-election.

• The DPP's Pingtung County branch said village and borough chief races differ from those for county magistrate and county councillor, as local residents look at service rather than party affiliation.

• In 152 villages and boroughs the number of candidates matches the number of seats, meaning the candidates are unopposed. The most competitive races are in three villages and boroughs, where five candidates each are vying for a single seat.

Outlook: Ahead of the year-end vote, both parties will focus on cultivating grassroots networks rather than planting their flags in the village and borough chief elections.