Leading the Protection of Voting Rights for the Socially Disadvantaged
Gwangju City Launches "Absentee Voting Participation Campaign"
Pledge Event with 11 Nursing Hospitals and Homes
"Elderly Voters in Care Facilities Gain Self-Esteem"
Kang Kijeong, mayor of Gwangju, attended the "21st Presidential Election Absentee Voting Participation Pledge" event held on the afternoon of the 8th at the city hall business room. After signing the pledge, he took a commemorative photo with representatives of 11 local nursing hospitals and nursing homes. Provided by Gwangju City
In anticipation of the 21st Presidential Election scheduled for June 3, Gwangju City is launching a "Absentee Voting Participation Campaign" in cooperation with local nursing hospitals and nursing homes to guarantee the precious suffrage rights of socially disadvantaged citizens.
On May 8, Gwangju City held the "21st Presidential Election Absentee Voting Participation Pledge" event in the city hall business room, as announced on May 10. "Absentee voting" is a system that allows voters who cannot visit polling stations in person for specific reasons to vote from their place of residence. Eligible voters include military personnel and police officers living on bases or vessels far from polling stations or early voting centers, individuals staying in hospitals or nursing homes, those detained in detention centers, prisons, or correctional facilities, people living on remote islands as defined by the National Election Commission regulations, and those undergoing treatment or in quarantine at institutions, facilities, or at home.
The "Absentee Voting Participation Pledge" event was organized as part of the "Absentee Voting Participation Campaign," aimed at enabling voters in the blind spots of suffrage?such as citizens living in local nursing hospitals and nursing homes or those with mobility difficulties?to exercise their valuable right to vote.
Attendees at the event included Mayor Kang Kijeong and representatives from 11 local nursing hospitals and nursing homes, who agreed to participate in absentee voting. Through a written pledge, they promised to: actively support absentee voting applications and participation for facility residents and users; provide accurate and fair election information; and practice solidarity and cooperation to guarantee the suffrage rights of socially disadvantaged groups, such as people with disabilities and the elderly.
Those eligible to report absentee voting must fill out and submit a report form to the local administrative welfare center at their registered address by the end of the day, either in person, by mail (to the administrative welfare center of their registered address), or online (via the website of the relevant district office). For mail submissions, the form must arrive by 6 p.m. on the same day. Absentee voting report forms are available at administrative welfare centers and can also be downloaded from the "Forms" section of the National Election Commission website.
Heads of hospitals, nursing homes, detention centers, prisons, correctional facilities, residential facilities for people with disabilities, and infectious disease control facilities that accommodate absentee voters must report their absentee voting facilities to the relevant district election commission by May 13.
Institutions and facilities with 10 or more absentee voters are required to set up polling booths. For those with fewer than 10 absentee voters, the election commission will install polling booths upon request.
Jeon Aeran, CEO of Isak Nursing Home, who attended the event and pledged to participate in absentee voting, said, "Since our opening in 2022, we have participated in absentee voting in every election. The elderly who participate feel proud that they have exercised their right to vote themselves. I hope more facilities will join absentee voting, as it not only guarantees suffrage but also helps improve the self-esteem of the elderly."
Mayor Kang emphasized, "'The Absentee Voting Participation Pledge,' which helps those with mobility difficulties exercise their right to vote, is a meaningful first step in realizing democracy. We will continue to support the full guarantee of suffrage for all citizens."
Meanwhile, there are a total of 447 institutions and facilities in the Gwangju area?such as hospitals, nursing hospitals, nursing homes, and residential facilities for people with disabilities?that are eligible to report absentee voting facilities. During the 22nd National Assembly election held on April 10 last year, absentee voting booths were set up at 26 locations, and 2,030 people reported for absentee voting.
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