[Column] Investigation Committee: "Seoul Election Commission's Complacent Response to Ballot Shortage... Accountability Needed"

Regarding the June 3 local elections ballot paper shortage, it has been found that although the Songpa District Election Commission foresaw the situation early on, the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission and the Central Election Commission did not begin a joint response until five hours later.

Chohyun Wook, Chair of the Committee to Investigate the Shortage of Ballots, met with reporters on June 15 after concluding the committee’s fourth meeting at the Central Election Commission’s Gwacheon office in Gyeonggi Province. She stated, "It appears necessary to hold the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission accountable for its complacent response and lukewarm recognition of the seriousness of the situation."

On the 12th, Chairman Chohyun Wook attended the 3rd meeting of the Committee to Investigate the Shortage of Ballots held at the Central Election Commission Gwacheon Office. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the investigation committee, around 11:40-11:50 a.m. on election day, a Songpa District Election Commission staff member, anticipating a shortage of unnumbered ballots, inquired about issuing serial numbers. The Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission then assigned serial numbers for 500 unnumbered ballots, and an additional 500 ballots, to the Songpa office. However, the investigation committee explained that the seriousness of the situation was not reported by the responsible staff to either the standing commissioner or the secretary-general of the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission.

Chair Chohyun Wook pointed out, "It seems the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission failed to recognize the gravity of the situation that would unfold, and the crisis response system did not function at all."

She continued, "At around 4:46 p.m., when the secretary-general of the Songpa District Election Commission notified the Seoul commission’s election manager that unnumbered ballots would be sent to polling stations due to the shortage, only then did the Seoul commission realize the seriousness of the situation."

According to the committee, at that time, voting was suspended at some polling stations due to the ballot shortage, and there were complaints from voters. Chair Chohyun Wook stated, "The Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission failed to recognize the seriousness of the situation despite repeated serial number inquiries from district offices, responding with complacency and inappropriate measures, which exacerbated the problem."

She added, "It was not until after 5:00 p.m. that the Central Election Commission, prompted by citizen complaints, called the Seoul commission to confirm the situation, and from that point, the two commissions began a joint response."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.