Early Voting Mismanagement Emerges as Major Variable Two Days Before Presidential Election (Comprehensive)

Impossible to Determine the Number of Confirmed and Quarantined Voters Using Temporary Polling Stations
Close Margins Could Lead to Continued Disputes

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Il-kwon] Poor management of early voting for COVID-19 confirmed and quarantined individuals has emerged as a major variable in the upcoming 20th presidential election, just two days away. The National Election Commission (NEC) has not at all grasped the scale of early voting among confirmed and quarantined voters, raising the possibility of disputes if the election results are decided by a narrow margin.

According to the NEC on the 6th, from 5 p.m. the day before when voting for confirmed and quarantined individuals began until the closing time of 7:30 p.m., a total of 990,630 voters participated in early voting. Due to long waiting times, voting continued at some polling stations until 8 p.m. Unlike general voters, confirmed patients and others were required to vote at temporary booths and use baskets, which caused problems.

While poor voting management is an issue, the impact would be even greater if the election outcome is decided by a margin smaller than the number of voters during that time. However, the NEC did not distinguish between general voters and COVID-19 confirmed or quarantined voters among all voters during this time period.

The NEC also stated that regarding voters after 6 p.m., the end time for general voters, "some general voters were still waiting to vote, so it cannot be concluded that all voters after 6 p.m. were confirmed or quarantined." As of midnight the previous day, the number of confirmed and quarantined individuals eligible to vote, including those under home treatment, was 1,025,973.

Both ruling and opposition parties raised their voices about the seriousness of the situation. Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, said in an interview with a cable news channel that day, "I strongly protested to Minister of the Interior and Safety Jeon Hae-cheol and the NEC Secretary-General and urged measures to prevent recurrence." Yoon Ho-jung, the party’s floor leader, also held a press conference at the Yeouido party headquarters, stating, "We consider this a very serious incident and will hold those responsible strictly accountable." Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, criticized at the campaign headquarters meeting, saying, "The NEC’s planning regarding early voting for confirmed patients was complacent."

Following the People Power Party’s visit to the NEC to protest the previous night, Democratic Party members of the Administration and Security Committee also visited the NEC that morning to urge the establishment of measures to prevent recurrence.

However, despite the early voting controversy, the presidential candidates from both parties urged voters to cast their ballots. Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate, regarding the NEC’s poor management of early voting for COVID-19 confirmed and quarantined individuals, said, "Our party is thoroughly monitoring this, and once the regime changes, we will conduct a thorough investigation, so please do not worry and make sure to vote on March 9 without missing a single person." Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, emphasized on his Facebook the previous day, "The NEC and authorities must take thorough measures to ensure that inconveniences and confusion for confirmed patients do not recur in the main vote on the 9th."

In a statement released that morning, the NEC said, "We deeply regret and apologize for the inconvenience caused to COVID-19 confirmed voters during early voting yesterday," but also emphasized, "The temporary booth voting method implemented this time is in accordance with laws and regulations. The presence of party-recommended observers was guaranteed throughout the process, so there is absolutely no possibility of fraud." Park Chan-jin, deputy secretary-general of the NEC, reported to the National Assembly’s Administration and Security Committee that day, "We humbly accept the various criticisms raised during the early voting process," and added, "On March 9, we will do our utmost to manage the election flawlessly and without any margin of error."

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