A candidate for a local neighborhood post in Taipei dropped out after voters uncovered his sexual assault conviction, a win for public accountability but not yet a legal certainty.

• Wang Chien-sheng, a former aide in a Taiwan People's Party city councilor's office, said he is quitting the Wufen borough chief race in Neihu.
• He registered before announcing the withdrawal, and Taiwan's election law does not let candidates pull their registration once filed.
• The Taipei election commission still has to certify the final list, so his name could legally still appear on the ballot.
• Rival candidate Wu Hsin-tai says the case started with ordinary residents online digging up the court ruling and pressing the question publicly.
• The fight now shifts to whether Taiwan should bar people with serious sex crime convictions from running, or at least force disclosure of criminal records.

Outlook: Voters in the district will not know for certain whether he is off the ballot until the commission publishes the official candidate list, and pressure is building for lawmakers to tighten disclosure rules.