Taiwan elections: 5 things to know about the stakes, stances and system

TAIPEI -- The only free and fair elections in the Chinese-speaking world will take place Saturday, as Taiwan's voters choose their next leader and lawmakers.

Taiwan is rated among the freest democracies in Asia, according to U.S. research institute Freedom House. On election day, around 19.5 million eligible voters out of a population of 23 million will get the opportunity to have their say.