[Exclusive] The National Election Commission Allocates an Additional 30 Minutes for Isolated Voters to Vote

On the 2nd, the official election campaign for the 21st National Assembly election began, and election commission staff are posting election posters on the fence of the Artists' House in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The National Election Commission has devised an extraordinary measure to allocate an additional 30 minutes after 5:30 PM for voting exclusively for individuals under self-quarantine due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This can be implemented if health authorities temporarily lift movement restrictions on quarantined individuals and a social consensus on shortening voting hours is reached. However, for the early voting scheduled for the imminent dates of the 10th and 11th, voting by quarantined individuals has already become impossible.

On the 8th, a National Election Commission official stated, "The Commission's consistent position is to request health authorities to ease movement restrictions for quarantined individuals only on the voting day," adding, "If easing is possible, the Commission will prepare the voting method. On the main voting day (the 15th), we plan to allocate about 30 minutes separately from the general voting hours so that quarantined individuals can vote during that time."

He continued, "There are about 14,000 polling stations nationwide, and currently around 40,000 quarantined individuals, so arithmetically, it averages about 3 to 4 people per polling station," and added, "A social consensus on shortening voting hours to separate the movement paths of quarantined individuals is necessary beforehand."

According to the Public Official Election Act, "Polling stations open at 6 AM and close at 6 PM on election day." To allow quarantined individuals to vote separately within the designated voting hours, it is inevitable to allocate separate time slots within the voting hours.

For early voting, which is available nationwide, quarantined individuals would need to have pre-established computer networks and other systems to participate. Therefore, even if movement restrictions are eased immediately, it is physically impossible due to time constraints, according to the National Election Commission.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) for COVID-19, as of the 6th, there are approximately 46,000 people under self-quarantine. Since June 1, a two-week self-quarantine has been mandatory for all overseas arrivals, so the number could increase to 80,000 to 90,000.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon mentioned on Facebook the previous day, "There were reports that people under self-quarantine would not be granted voting rights," and said, "If true, the Commission's measures are administratively convenient and bureaucratic. There could be safe ways to vote either online or offline." The National Election Commission believes there are no alternatives unless health authorities decide to ease movement restrictions.

The CDSCH stated the previous day, "The National Election Commission, health authorities, and related ministries are consulting. An announcement is expected soon."