People in Taiwan head for the polls on Saturday to choose their next president.

Three candidates are in the running. Lai Ching-te is from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Hou Yu-ih represents Kuomintang, the biggest opposition party. And Ko Wen-je hails from the Taiwan People's Party, the second-largest opposition group.

The hopefuls made their final appeals to voters on Friday in the key population centers of New Taipei and Taipei cities in the north.

The DPP's Lai pledged to continue President Tsai Ing-wen's policies. He also emphasized the importance of the parliamentary elections, which will be held on the same day as the presidential election.

Lai advised supporters against being overly optimistic by splitting their votes. He said reforms will stall if the Kuomintang and the TPP win a majority in parliament, dealing a heavy blow to national security.

Kuomintang's Hou accused the DPP government of undermining relations with China and raising the risk of war. He called for improved ties with Beijing.

Hou said the race has now become a one-on-one contest between him and the DPP's Lai, calling on opposition supporters to concentrate their votes on him, so as to realize the first change of government in eight years.

The TPP's Ko called for breaking the grip of the two major parties. He called on people to prove in Saturday's polls that there are more than just two parties in Taiwan, and that his party is not merely a third force.

Observers say that if no party wins a majority in parliament, the TPP could hold the key to the new president's running of the government.

Ko said support for him and his party will change Taiwan's future for the better.

Voting takes place from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., local time. The ballots will be counted immediately.