Final Early Voting Rate for April 7 By-Elections at 20.5%... "Passionate Voting Enthusiasm Despite Spring Rain" (Comprehensive)

Lower than the last general election but the highest among all by-elections
Seoul early voting rate 21.95%
Busan early voting rate 18.65%

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The National Election Commission announced on the 3rd that the early voting rate for the April 7 by-elections and re-elections was recorded at 20.54%, the highest early voting rate ever for by-elections and re-elections. Although it did not reach the early voting rate of the last general election, it surpassed the record set during the 2018 local elections.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On this day, the Election Commission reported that out of 12,161,624 registered voters, 2,497,959 cast their votes early. Although the early voting deadline was 6 p.m., the final turnout rate was announced around 6:40 p.m. after voters who were waiting in line completed their voting.

This turnout rate did not reach the 26.69% early voting rate of the 21st general election but exceeded the 20.14% recorded during the 7th local elections.

This by-election and re-election are being held in 21 locations, including two metropolitan mayor positions such as the Seoul Mayor and Busan Mayor, two basic local government heads such as the Ulsan Nam-gu District Mayor and Gyeongnam Uiryeong County Mayor, eight metropolitan council seats (such as Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly and Chungbuk Provincial Assembly), and nine basic council seats (such as Jeonnam Boseong County Council and Gyeongnam Haman County Council).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, the Seoul mayoral election, which has attracted attention this time, saw 1,849,324 early voters out of 8,425,869 eligible voters, recording a high turnout rate of 21.95%. In the Busan mayoral election, 547,499 voters cast early votes out of 2,936,301 eligible voters, resulting in an 18.65% turnout rate.

During the last general election, Seoul's early voting rate was 27.29%, and during local elections, it was 19.1%. In Busan, the early voting rate was 25.52% in the last general election and 17.16% in the local elections.

Despite the COVID-19 situation and nationwide rain on the 3rd, including in Seoul and Busan, the high early voting rate is interpreted as reflecting voters' strong interest in this election. With the increase in early voting rates, expectations have grown that the overall turnout rate for the by-elections and re-elections could exceed 50%.

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