TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Keelung will hold a recall vote to decide the future of Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國梁) on Oct. 13, and all residents will be granted a public holiday to vote, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said on Tuesday (Sept. 10).

Only those whose household registration is in Keelung will be eligible to take the day off, the CEC said in a statement. It said the day off will be granted to ensure employees of all organizations can vote according to the law.

The date for the vote was set by the CEC in August after 36,909 valid signatures were submitted in support of the recall. It surpassed the required number of 30,792 signatures.

The planned recall vote will follow a months-long campaign by civil society groups, who believe Hsieh is incompetent and should be removed from office. The Kuomintang’s Hsieh and other party members said the recall effort is partisan and politically motivated, which campaigners deny.