Early Voting Rate on First Day of April 7 By-Election at 9.14%... Surpasses 2018 Local Election

On the first day of early voting for the April 7 by-elections on the 2nd, citizens are casting their votes at the early voting station set up at the Namgajwa 1-dong Community Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The National Election Commission announced on the 2nd, the first day of early voting for the April by-elections and re-elections, that the final voter turnout was recorded at 9.14%.

According to the Election Commission, out of 12,161,624 registered voters, 1,112,167 had cast their votes during the early voting held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on that day.

In the Seoul mayoral election, 813,218 people participated, resulting in a turnout rate of 9.65%, while in the Busan mayoral election, 253,323 people voted, with a turnout rate of 8.63%.

The most recent comparable election, the first day of the 21st general election in 2020, had a final turnout rate of 12.14%. The 2018 local elections and the 2017 presidential election recorded turnout rates of 8.77% and 11.70%, respectively.

Since the early voting turnout over two days during the 2018 local elections was 20.14%, it is expected that the final turnout for this early voting, which continues until the 3rd, will exceed 20%. There is also speculation that this could break the highest turnout record for by-elections and re-elections. The previous highest record was 19.40% during the October 29, 2014 by-elections.

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