many did. in taiwan, there are no absentee ballots. some like this student from the u.s. flew 16 hours to cast votes in person. >> were afraid that taiwan would become similar to hong kong if there whats a different result. >> for sure. they could only partnership with china and that is the first step of encroachment, right. >> reporter: when the buzz of victory wears off, a sobering reality for taiwan's new president. his party lost control of parliament, a sign of rotor dissatisfaction with low pay and expensive housing, and lack of opportunity, local issues have never been the ruling party's strength. it is why they lost the last round of local elections. but the party's two-term president did put taiwan on the global stage like never before. lai, her vice president and now successor, ran on a continuity ticket. >> we're telling the