With the impeachment of President Yoon Sukyeol being upheld and a presidential election scheduled to be held, there is growing attention on whether the by-election for the vacant Changwon mayoral position, which became vacant due to the confirmation of an election annulment, will be held at the same time.
According to the National Election Commission and the Gyeongnam Election Commission on the 4th, it is expected that the presidential election and the Changwon mayoral by-election will not be held together.
The Changwon mayoral by-election, which was confirmed on the 3rd with an annulment of the election result, is technically due in the second half of this year. However, under a special provision, it is not required because the remaining term is less than one year until the local elections in June next year.
According to Article 35, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs (b) and (c) of the Public Official Election Act, by-elections and re-elections for heads of local governments, in cases where the reason for holding the election is confirmed between September 1 and the end of February of the previous year, are to be held on the first Wednesday of April; if confirmed between March 1 and August 31, they are to be held on the first Wednesday of October.
Additionally, Article 201, Paragraph 1 of the Public Official Election Act states that a by-election may not be held if the period from the election date to the expiration of the term is less than one year.
An official from the election commission stated, "In principle, the presidential election and the by-election will be conducted separately according to the election law," and added, "It is difficult to give a definite answer at this time, but once the date for the presidential election is set, the schedule will gradually be clarified."
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