Local Elections: One Person, Seven Votes... Pilot Implementation of Multi-Member District System for Basic Councilors

By-Elections for National Assembly Members in 7 Locations Nationwide
Voting Must Be Cast for Only One Candidate Even in Multi-Member and Large Multi-Member District Systems

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] In the June 1 local elections, most regional voters will receive seven ballot papers. In areas where by-elections for members of the National Assembly are held, voters can cast up to eight votes per person. Starting from this election, the multi-member district system (3 to 5 members) for basic councilors will be piloted in 30 electoral districts nationwide.

According to the Central Election Commission on the 12th, a total of seven elections will be held in this local election. This is because voters will elect metropolitan government heads (mayors and governors), superintendents of education, basic local government heads (heads of autonomous districts, cities, and counties), regional metropolitan council members, regional basic council members, proportional representation metropolitan council members, and proportional representation basic council members all at once. However, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Sejong Special Self-Governing City will hold five and four elections respectively. In Jeju, the governor appoints the mayor.

There are seven regions where local elections and by-elections for members of the National Assembly are held simultaneously. These include Daegu Suseong-gu Eul, Incheon Gyeyang-gu Eul, Gyeonggi Seongnam-si Bundang-gu Gap, Gangwon Wonju-si Gap, Chungnam Boryeong-si Seocheon-gun, Gyeongnam Changwon-si Uichang-gu, and Jeju Jeju-si Eul. Voters in these areas will receive up to eight ballot papers.

The pilot areas for the multi-member district system for basic councilor elections include a total of 30 electoral districts nationwide. These include Dongdaemun-gu Ma and Ba districts in Seoul, Cha and Ka districts in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, and Da, Ra, and Ma districts in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. This measure was agreed upon by the People Power Party and the Democratic Party to lower the entry barriers for minor parties.

One point to note is that in regional basic councilor elections adopting the multi-member district system, candidates are indicated as '1-Ga', '1-Na', or '2-Ga', '2-Na', '2-Da', etc. Even if multiple candidates from the same party run, voters must vote for only one candidate.

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