Record High Early Voting Rate in By-elections
Main Voting Relatively Low
The voter turnout for the by-election for the Mayor of Gangseo District in Seoul was recorded at 38.9% as of 3 p.m. on the 11th. This shows a lower trend compared to the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and last year's local elections.
The National Election Commission announced that out of 500,603 eligible voters in the Gangseo District mayoral election, 194,949 had voted by that time. Earlier, the early voting turnout for the Gangseo District mayoral election was 22.64% (114,511 voters), setting a record high for early voting in by-elections historically. Despite the high early voting rate, the main voting turnout is low, so the final turnout is expected to fall below 50%.
Previously, the voter turnout in Gangseo District during the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election was 43.5% (as of 3 p.m.). During last year's local elections, the turnout in this area was 43.0% (as of 3 p.m.).
Although this Gangseo District mayoral election is a by-election to elect one local government head, it has attracted political attention as it provides insight into metropolitan area public opinion just six months before next year’s general election. The People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea concentrated their efforts on the election campaign, even assigning members of the National Assembly at the dong (neighborhood) level to canvass.
On the 11th, the day of the by-election for the Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, voters are casting their ballots at the 9th polling station in Banghwa 1-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
The candidates for the by-election were ▲Jin Gyo-hoon from the Democratic Party of Korea ▲Kim Tae-woo from the People Power Party ▲Kwon Soo-jung from the Justice Party ▲Kwon Hye-in from the Progressive Party ▲Kim Yu-ri from the Green Party ▲Go Young-il from the Liberty Unification Party (in order of ballot numbers). Because the by-election is held on a weekday, voting will continue until 8 p.m. that day.
The election results are expected to bring mixed fortunes to the leadership of both ruling and opposition parties. This is because the metropolitan area voter sentiment will be confirmed less than six months before next year’s general election. Scenarios range from a narrow victory (辛勝) for the People Power Party to the Democratic Party leading by double digits.
Regardless of the election outcome, political repercussions are inevitable. If candidate Kim Tae-woo loses, the People Power Party may face criticism for nominating a candidate despite causing the by-election and for ultimately selecting Kim Tae-woo as the final candidate after a primary. Conversely, if candidate Jin Gyo-hoon loses, the Democratic Party is also likely to face a major shock. Although the Democratic Party lost in the last local election in Gangseo District, all three incumbent members of the National Assembly from this area belong to the Democratic Party, making it a stronghold region.
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