Overseas Voting for Citizens Abroad from Next Month 1-6, Emergency Due to Global Spread of COVID-19

Unavoidable Record-Low Voter Turnout

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads worldwide, overseas Korean voting has been put on alert. Among 2.14 million overseas Koreans, 176,960 voters have completed registration for overseas voting.

According to the National Election Commission on the 17th, the overseas voting for the April 15 general election is scheduled to take place from the 1st to the 6th of next month at Korean embassies, consulates general, and branch offices in various countries. However, if lockdown orders are issued by countries, many overseas Koreans will be unable to vote due to the nature of overseas elections, where polling stations are not densely established in each voter's residential area as in Korea.

So far, Italy and Spain have declared a national emergency for COVID-19 response and issued nationwide lockdown orders prohibiting citizens from going out. The United States has also declared a national emergency and has begun city lockdowns in New York State. City lockdowns have also been implemented in India, the Philippines, Israel, Palestine, Denmark, and others.

Among the overseas Koreans who applied for overseas voting with the National Election Commission, the Japanese Embassy had the highest number with 9,044 applicants. The Ho Chi Minh Consulate General followed with 8,635, and the Los Angeles Consulate General with 8,025. By country, the United States had 42,062 applicants, Japan 23,158, and China 20,797, with these three countries accounting for 48.5% of the total. There are also forecasts that the return of ballot boxes will be difficult due to the reduction or suspension of air routes.

In this regard, the National Election Commission stated in materials submitted to the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on the 12th, "We will check and adjust the methods and routes for returning overseas ballots due to the reduction and suspension of air routes, and if necessary, listen to opinions from each diplomatic mission to shorten the overseas voting period or decide to suspend overseas election affairs." The Commission also said, "We will guarantee the exercise of voting rights for overseas Koreans who return to Korea (including those who have not departed) through the domestic return voting system guidance."

Following overseas elections, domestic voting such as shipboard voting, early voting, and main voting is also expected to face difficulties. As a domestic voting measure, the National Election Commission proposed including confirmed patients and self-quarantined individuals who pre-registered as subjects for absentee voting. However, since absentee voting must be reported by 6 p.m. on the 28th according to election law, it was pointed out that voters who become confirmed patients or self-quarantined after that will practically be unable to vote.

Due to these impacts, there are forecasts that this general election will inevitably set a record for the lowest voter turnout in history. The election with the lowest voter turnout in history was the 18th general election (46%), while the 20th general election had a turnout of 58%.

Meanwhile, the National Election Commission announced in a press release on the morning of the same day that by-elections and re-elections for 8 basic local government heads, 17 metropolitan council members, and 33 basic council members will be held on the same schedule as the National Assembly election. The areas subject to this are those where the reasons for holding elections, such as invalidation of election or resignation, were confirmed from March 5 last year to the 16th of this month. Candidate registration will be held from the 26th to the 27th, and full-scale election campaigns will begin on the 2nd of next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.