"How to Vote?"... COVID-19 Emergency Sparks Concerns for Elections Worldwide

Iran Records Lowest Voter Turnout Since Revolution
Israel Faces Emergency Ahead of General Election on 2nd Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads across countries, major election schedules are also being disrupted. Iran, which held elections last week, recorded the lowest voter turnout in 41 years, and Israel, scheduled to hold general elections next week, is making all-out efforts to calm public anxiety.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to Al Jazeera on the 23rd (local time), the conservatives who advocated a hardline stance on U.S. policy won a landslide victory in Iran's general election, but the voter turnout was only 42%. This was the lowest since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. In the capital Tehran, the turnout was only 25%.

Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, had previously encouraged voting by mentioning "religious duty" in relation to this election. Because of this, there is a bewildered atmosphere over the unprecedentedly low voter turnout in Iranian history.

Khamenei stated on his official website, "Negative propaganda about COVID-19 started months ago and intensified before the election," adding, "Their (the West's) media did not miss even the slightest opportunity to prevent Iranian voters from voting and made (Iranians) use COVID-19 as a reason to abstain from voting."

Recently, 8 people have died from COVID-19 in Iran. So far, 43 people have been confirmed infected with COVID-19, and 785 are reported to show suspicious symptoms.

Emergency lights have also turned on in Israel, which will hold general elections on the 2nd of next month. After it was confirmed that Korean tourists who visited Israel for pilgrimage were infected with COVID-19, the Israeli government ordered self-quarantine for Korean tourists and suspected contacts.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The Israeli Election Commission prepared isolated voting spaces to prevent voters from being exposed to COVID-19. In addition, Israeli public security authorities are preparing measures to prevent the spread of rumors and fake news related to COVID-19 intended to disrupt the election.

Israel has repeatedly failed to form a coalition government and has held three general elections within a year. With political turmoil wearing people out and the threat of COVID-19, it is expected that voter turnout will be low.

So far, two COVID-19 infection cases have been reported in Israel. They are passengers of the 'Diamond Princess' docked in Japan. In Israel, 700 people, mainly suspected contacts of Korean tourists, are under self-quarantine.