Leading up to the elections, the ruling and opposition parties battled over whether to use a one- or two-step voting system and over whether there were ulterior motives in tying the referendums to the parliamentary elections. With all the quibbling over technical details and mudslinging by party leaders, political views and report cards were cast to the wayside, putting a damper on voter enthusiasm.
選前朝野雙方因究竟要採一階段或兩階段投票、是否有「公投綁大選」之嫌僵持不下，枝枝節節的技術紛擾，高層間互相叫陣，反倒候選人的政見與問政實績無人聞問，影響了民眾的投票意願。