Confusion Over Early Voting for COVID-19 Positive Cases... Ruling and Opposition Parties Criticize Election Commission, "No Confusion on the 9th"

Lee Jun-seok "Election Commission's Lack of Preparation, Must Establish Countermeasures"
Seo Young-kyo "Must Prepare Measures to Prevent Recurrence in Main Vote"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Both ruling and opposition parties criticized the National Election Commission and called for improvements regarding the confusion that occurred during the early voting process for COVID-19 confirmed patients and those in quarantine.

On the 5th, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, stated on social media (SNS), "Allowing voters to directly place their ballots into the ballot box is an important procedure that must be upheld for a secret ballot," adding, "The fact that some people gave up voting and left due to inappropriate handling at the site means that the Commission's lack of preparation is already affecting the outcome of this election."

Lee said, "The People Power Party will inquire into the reasons behind this situation with the Election Commission and demands that a satisfactory corrective plan be swiftly established before the main voting on the 9th."

On the last day of early voting, at 5 p.m., voting for COVID-19 confirmed patients began, sparking controversy at polling stations nationwide. Unlike the usual method where voters mark their ballots and place them in the ballot box, confirmed patients voted in a separately prepared temporary voting booth, after which election officials collected their ballots.

The Election Commission explained that since there is only one ballot box and confirmed patients could not access it due to movement restrictions, election officials delivered the ballots under the supervision of observers from political parties. However, concerns about the possibility of election fraud were raised.

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, also criticized via SNS, "How can early voting for COVID-19 confirmed and quarantined individuals be such a mess?" and added, "I feel unbearable anger at the Election Commission's incompetence."

Kim stated, "Despite repeatedly requesting thorough election preparations, the Election Commission has been so sloppy and unprepared that it is now impossible to trust them any longer," and said, "Even before the main voting on the 9th, we will quickly review the poor management revealed today and take measures to ensure no disruptions during the main vote."

The Democratic Party also urged the protection of voting rights for COVID-19 confirmed patients and others. Seo Young-kyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker who is both the chair of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee and the situation room chief for Lee Jae-myung's campaign, reported that she strongly pointed out, "We must check the conditions of all polling stations nationwide, ask the public for understanding regarding any inconveniences, identify areas needing improvement, and prepare measures to prevent the recurrence of the same problems in the main voting."

The Election Commission informed Representative Seo, "There is only one early voting station per neighborhood, and due to the high early voting turnout, many people came to the polling stations, causing confusion. We will ensure that the same problems do not recur during the main voting."

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