Confirmed Patients Can Vote... But How Do Self-Quarantined People Vote in the General Election?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] With the general election just 8 days away, controversy is arising over the voting rights of COVID-19 self-quarantined individuals. While confirmed cases or self-quarantined individuals who applied for absentee voting in advance can vote at designated locations, those who entered self-quarantine after the advance application period may face restrictions on their voting rights.

According to the Central Election Commission on the 7th, special measures are being prepared in collaboration with related ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for voters who are unable to exercise their voting rights due to self-quarantine from COVID-19 during the April 15 general election. Discussions are underway on measures such as temporarily lifting self-quarantine for a certain period on election day for self-quarantined individuals.

Park Jong-hyun, Public Relations Team Leader of the Government-wide Countermeasure Support Headquarters, said at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters held at the Government Complex Sejong, "Currently, the Election Commission is coordinating with the quarantine authorities and related ministries," adding, "I understand that the discussions are in the final stages. An announcement is expected soon."

Additionally, Park Young-soo, Secretary General of the Election Commission, appeared on KBS's "Sunday Diagnosis Live" on the 5th and said, "While voting rights are important, the health rights of the people are equally important," and added, "Whether to allow those individuals to move for voting is a difficult decision, so a position has not been finalized. However, if the government permits limited movement solely for voting, the Election Commission is internally preparing to establish several separate early voting stations at the city or provincial level, so that those individuals can come to vote using private vehicles or transportation arranged by local governments without using public transportation."

Meanwhile, the Election Commission will operate special early voting stations at residential treatment centers treating COVID-19 confirmed patients on the 10th and 11th. These special early voting stations will be set up at eight residential treatment centers located in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk regions, where many confirmed patients and medical/support personnel are present. The operating hours will be 5 to 8 hours per day during the early voting period, determined based on the number of isolated individuals at each treatment center.

The voting targets are approximately 900 COVID-19 confirmed patients and medical/support personnel currently undergoing treatment at the respective residential treatment centers as of that day. However, the Election Commission explained that this number may change depending on additional admissions or discharges of confirmed patients until the early voting deadline. To enhance safety at the special early voting stations and avoid contact between voters, movement paths will be separated, and after voting ends, early voting equipment, ballot boxes, and return envelopes will be disinfected or sterilized at the facility before being transported.

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