Attempt to Vote Twice Detected...
Authorities to Determine if Same-Name Voters Committed a Crime
On June 3, the day of the 21st presidential election, Seoul police received a total of 102 reports related to polling stations via the 112 emergency hotline by 6:00 p.m.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, at around 11:32 a.m. that day, an incident occurred at a polling station in Gangseo District where a man in his 80s mistakenly marked two candidates on his ballot. After being instructed by the National Election Commission staff that "such a ballot is invalid but must still be placed in the ballot box," he tore up the ballot paper. The man was booked on charges of ballot destruction under the Public Official Election Act. He told police that he "suspected election fraud."
At around 3:22 p.m. in Gangdong District, a man in his 60s was arrested on the spot for violating the election campaign period regulations under the Public Official Election Act after he encouraged people to vote for Democratic Party candidate Lee Jaemyung while wearing blue clothes about 150 meters from a polling station.
Around the same time in Gwangjin District, a woman in her 30s who had already cast an early vote tried to vote again but was caught during the identity verification process. She told police that she "thought she was supposed to participate in both early voting and the main election."
At about 5:33 p.m., a middle-aged man at a polling station in Dongdaemun District was arrested on the spot after causing a disturbance by shouting at election officials and other voters for no reason and taking photos inside the polling station. The National Election Commission requested that the police impose a strict penalty on this man.
At the polling station at Seoul Dangjung Elementary School in Yeongdeungpo District, a woman in her 70s reported to the police after being informed during identity verification that she had "already voted." Investigation revealed that another person with the same name was found in the jurisdiction. The National Election Commission plans to check whether the person with the same name voted and to determine if a crime was committed. If necessary, they will file a complaint.
At the entrance to Wonmyeong Elementary School polling station in Seocho District, there was also an incident where a red balloon with "President Kim Moonsu" written on it was installed. Election staff removed the balloon immediately after discovering it and reported the matter to the Seocho District Election Commission. The balloon was reportedly installed by citizens dressed in red. The Seocho District Election Commission has identified these individuals and will decide whether to refer the case to investigative authorities after conducting its own investigation.
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