Early Voting Ballot Loss... Election Commission Says "Occurred During Invalid Processing" (Comprehensive)

One Ballot Missing at Early Voting Site in Suwon, Gyeonggi
Discovered Late After Ballot Box Transfer

Unprecedented Confusion Nationwide
Some Registered as Deceased Unable to Vote

On the afternoon of the 5th, officials are opening an out-of-district ballot box at an early voting station set up at Seoul Station. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 6th, it was reported that confusion arose at an early voting station in Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, during the 20th presidential election early voting, when it was confirmed that the number of ballots was one less than the number actually issued. Although a plan to treat the missing ballot as lost was considered, the situation was resolved after the election commission's investigation confirmed that the missing ballot was an invalidated ballot.

According to a comprehensive report by Asia Economy, on the day before the end of the 20th presidential election early voting, at the early voting station set up on the 4th floor of the Gwanggyo 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Gwanggyo New Town, Suwon, it was confirmed that the number of ballots was one less than the number issued. The Yeongtong District Election Commission reportedly only recognized this discrepancy after handing over the out-of-district ballot box to the local post office and opening it following the close of early voting. Due to this, the election commission reportedly conducted multiple rechecks of the number of ballots issued and the number of return envelopes.

At the scene, it was initially decided to treat the missing ballot as lost. However, the election commission's subsequent investigation revealed that the missing ballot was an invalidated ballot. The commission stated, "Due to the carelessness of an out-of-district voter, the ballot was torn, and since it did not qualify for reissuance, it was invalidated. The one-ballot discrepancy between the number issued and the number of return envelopes was confirmed to have originated from this incident."

Earlier, during the two days of early voting held nationwide from the 4th, confusion occurred repeatedly. In particular, COVID-19 confirmed or quarantined voters did not place their marked ballots directly into the ballot box; instead, election officials collected them in transport envelopes before moving them to the ballot box, raising concerns about potential loss. The election commission explained, "This measure was unavoidable to separate confirmed cases from others," but voters expressed dissatisfaction, pointing to insufficient preparation and procedural shortcomings.

At early voting stations set up across the country, unprecedented confusion continued due to poor ballot management. At the early voting station in Yeongtong 3-dong Administrative Welfare Center, Yeongtong District, Suwon, a living voter was registered as deceased in the computer system, preventing early voting. The election commission explained, "We receive the voter list prepared by local governments and only manage the polling stations. The local government is aware of this computer error." The commission added, "The local government submitted a written correction notice for the voter list error, and the affected voter voted late in the afternoon."

At the Manchon 1-dong polling station in Suseong District, Daegu, a report was received that a ballot already marked was found inside an envelope during the process of placing ballots into envelopes after a confirmed COVID-19 patient voted. The same situation occurred at the Sinsa 1-dong polling station in Eunpyeong District, Seoul. Additionally, at the Daebong 1-dong polling station in Jung District, Daegu, an election observer filed a complaint for obstruction of official duties against an election commission official who refused a request to visually confirm the number of voters in the morning.

Meanwhile, the Central Election Commission expressed regret and apology on the same day regarding the controversy over poor management of early voting, stating, "We deeply regret and apologize for the inconvenience caused to COVID-19 confirmed voters during early voting conducted the previous day." The commission emphasized, "We will accurately identify and thoroughly review the revealed issues and promptly prepare measures so that the public can vote with confidence on election day," while also stressing, "The temporary polling station voting method implemented this time was in accordance with laws and regulations."