The Election Commission: "Ballots marked by confirmed patients are placed into the ballot box by election officials in the presence of observers"
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Controversy has arisen over the issue that ballots cast by COVID-19 confirmed patients during the voting process are not directly placed into the ballot box but are handed over to election officials. The Central Election Commission explained that ballots from confirmed patients, who cannot enter the polling station under the supervision of observers, are being placed into the ballot box.
On the last day of early voting, the 5th, at 5 p.m., voting by COVID-19 confirmed patients began, sparking controversy at polling stations nationwide. Unlike the usual method where voters place their ballots directly into the ballot box after marking them, confirmed patients complete their voting at a separately prepared temporary voting booth and then request their ballots from election officials, which has been occurring in various locations.
Such disputes are happening across the country.
The Election Commission previously stated that confirmed COVID-19 patients are required to fill out a voter identity confirmation form and vote at a separate temporary voting booth. The booths are arranged to separate the flow of confirmed patients and quarantined individuals, allowing each group to vote separately.
An Election Commission official explained regarding the controversy, "In the process of separating the flow of general voters and confirmed patients, temporary voting booths are set up at the entrance or outside the polling station. Since confirmed patients cannot enter the polling station, election officials receive the ballots under the supervision of observers from political parties and then deliver them to the election supervisors," adding, "The ballots are inserted into the ballot box inside the polling station by the election supervisors."
According to Article 151② of the current Public Official Election Act, only one ballot box can be used at a single polling station. The absence of a separate ballot box outside is in accordance with this regulation.
The official said, "From the voters' perspective, since the temporary voting booths are mostly outside and they cannot see the ballot box inside the building, they say there is no ballot box, but we are currently following the procedure," and added, "The Election Commission is also aware of the seriousness of the current situation."
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