Election Commission: "Distribution of Ballots Pre-Stamped by Polling Officers Is Normal Procedure"

"Up to 100 Ballots May Be Pre-Stamped in Advance"

The National Election Commission explained on the 3rd that the distribution of ballot papers with the polling officer's seal already stamped at some polling stations was part of "normal voting management procedures."

On the 3rd, the 21st presidential election day, citizens are casting their precious votes at a polling station set up at Cheongju Girls' High School. Photo by Yonhap News

In a press release that day, the Commission stated, "According to the Public Official Election Act, the polling officer may pre-stamp up to 100 ballot papers before issuing them."

The Commission also explained, "Before issuing the ballot paper, the serial number slip can be pre-cut along the perforation by about two-thirds, and in front of the voter, the serial number slip is detached and the ballot paper is handed over."

This means that, in preparation for a large number of voters, it is permissible to pre-stamp the ballots and pre-cut the serial number slips as part of the preparations.

Earlier, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that multiple 112 emergency calls had been received from polling stations across the country during the 21st presidential election.

According to the police, at around 9:22 a.m. that day, a 56-year-old woman at a polling station in Seocho-gu reported that "election officials had already detached the serial number at the bottom of the ballot paper and pre-stamped the ballots."