Jamsil 7-dong Ballot Boxes Delayed for 24 Hours; Officials Criticize Election Commission

A shortage of ballots occurred at a polling station in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, where the main voting for the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections and National Assembly by-elections was held on June 3. On June 3, the day of the main vote for the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections and National Assembly by-elections, ballot shortages occurred at 14 polling stations in Seoul's Songpa, Gangnam, and Gwangjin districts, disrupting the voting process. Polling Station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu, extended voting hours by four hours, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

This issue led to a situation where ballot boxes could not be transported for over 24 hours after voting concluded. Even after 24 hours had passed since voting ended, the ballot boxes remained at the site. Protesters and YouTubers, demonstrating against the ballot shortage, gathered in front of the polling station, causing delays in ballot box transportation. Some individuals blocked the removal of the ballot boxes, raising suspicions of election fraud.

On-site public officials are expressing dissatisfaction with the insufficient preparation and response from the National Election Commission (NEC). The Songpa-gu branch of the National Public Officials' Union Seoul Regional Headquarters criticized the election management issues, arguing that local government officials are being made to compensate for the NEC's shortcomings. Another official stated that while ballot shortages may occur, responsibility should not be lacking, asserting that the NEC must bear responsibility for the safety of public officials who dedicated themselves to the election. They clarified that local civil servants are not subcontracted labor or scapegoats for the NEC.

A post titled "Demands to the Election Commission" appeared on the Seocho-gu branch's bulletin board. The author described local civil servants as "human shields" and questioned whether employees who worked overtime due to extended voting hours caused by ballot shortages would receive compensation from the NEC. The post demanded the dispatch of trained NEC staff to each polling station and for the NEC to directly manage ballot papers. It further stated that if the demands are not met, they will engage in a struggle to refuse election duties.