Two Individuals Reported and Referred for Investigation for Illegal Activities in Jeju
Up to 10 Years Imprisonment and 30 Million Won Fine for Ballot Damage
Voters who engaged in 'illegal activities' such as tearing ballots or taking photos with their mobile phones during early voting for the 22nd National Assembly election will be investigated by the police.
On the 9th, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Election Commission (Election Commission) announced that it reported Mr. A, who committed illegal acts at an early voting station, to the police and requested an investigation into Mr. B.
On the last day of early voting, the 6th, Mr. A requested a ballot replacement from an election commission staff member at an early voting station in Jeju, saying, "I marked the proportional representation National Assembly election ballot incorrectly" just before inserting the ballot into the ballot box. In principle, only one ballot is issued per person, and reissuance is not allowed. The election commission staff informed him that "ballots cannot be reissued," and Mr. A tore and damaged the ballot. According to the Public Official Election Act, damaging a ballot can result in up to 10 years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.
On the same day, Mr. B took a photo of a marked ballot inside a voting booth at another early voting station in Jeju with his mobile phone camera and sent it to an acquaintance via a social networking service (SNS) messenger. According to election law, photographing ballots inside the voting booth is prohibited, and ballots that have been publicly disclosed are invalid. Additionally, violators may face up to 2 years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 4 million KRW.
The provincial election commission stated, "We will strictly investigate election crimes that interfere with the secrecy of voting and the fair and peaceful order of voting," and added, "On election day, the 10th, we will actively guide voters to prevent similar incidents."
■ Voting Procedure for the 22nd National Assembly Election
2. Sign or stamp (with a hand seal) on the voter list
3. Receive the ballot
4. Mark the ballot using the tools provided in the voting booth
5. Insert the ballot into the ballot box
※ In some areas, by-elections and supplementary elections are held simultaneously.
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