Taiwan's legislature has backed off a rushed change to referendum voting rules, a relief for election officials who warned it could wreck the November local elections.

• KMT and TPP lawmakers wanted to force all referendum questions onto a single ballot paper, but the speaker confirmed the bill would not be taken up.
• Election commission head Yu Ying-lung called the plan rushed and dangerous, saying it would be a disaster with under 100 days until the November 28 local elections.
• The KMT now says the change would start next year instead, and the TPP wants to make the single-ballot rule optional rather than mandatory.
• Critics attacked the process too: the bill skipped committee review and went straight to a second reading.
• Separately, ousted TPP lawmaker Li Chen-hsiu announced a run for Zhubei mayor, reviving questions about whether her China residency status disqualifies her.

Outlook: The single-ballot plan is likely to return in some form for future votes, while the November elections proceed under the current rules.