Number of Election Commissions That Falsely Entered Voter Counts Rises to 36

The special prosecution team led by Lee Tae-han, which is investigating the ballot paper shortage incident, has identified a total of 36 election management commissions that entered false voter counts, including six more confirmed after a search and seizure operation.

Six More Cases Confirmed, Bringing the Total to 36

The special prosecutor's team investigating the National Election Commission announced on the 22nd that, through analysis of additional seized materials and interviews with those involved following the search and seizure operation, it had identified six more city, county, and district election commissions that had entered false data. According to Yonhap News, the additional locations are Chungju in North Chungcheong Province, Nonsan in South Chungcheong Province, Masanhappo-gu and Masanhowon-gu districts of Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province, Sangju in North Gyeongsang Province, and Gangneung in Gangwon Province. Combined with the 30 previously confirmed cases, the number of commissions found to have entered false data nationwide has now risen to 36.

The investigation stems from the ballot paper shortage that occurred during the June 3 local elections. At the time, ballot papers ran out at numerous polling stations, forcing voters to leave without casting their ballots. As the investigation unfolded, evidence emerged that some election commission staff had entered figures into the system that differed from the actual number of voters. The core logic of the investigation is that entering a voter count lower than the actual figure would make the remaining ballot supply appear larger than it really was, potentially delaying responses such as placing supplementary orders.

Why the Investigation Is Expanding

The figure of 36 carries significance beyond mere statistics. Given that a substantial share of the nation's 243 city, county, and district election commissions are now under investigation, it suggests that the false entries may not have been isolated mistakes in specific regions but rather a practice embedded in routine operations. The special prosecution is expanding its list by cross-checking materials obtained through searches and seizures with statements from those involved, meaning the number could grow further as the investigation proceeds.

That said, the extent to which the false entries should be deemed 'intentional' is expected to become a key issue going forward. Whether a staff member hastily entered estimates under deadline pressure or deliberately manipulated the figures to conceal a ballot shortage will affect what charges apply and how severe the penalties are. The case has also grown heavier in weight, with an election commission official found dead early in the investigation. According to the Hwaseong Western Police Station and other sources, a NEC employee in his 40s who had been questioned by the special prosecution team was found dead in the flower bed of an apartment complex in Hwaseong on the 21st.

Impact on Legislation to Reform the Election Commission

The investigation's findings are expected to directly influence parliamentary audits of the election commission and discussions on reform legislation. With cracks appearing in the data reliability of the very institution responsible for managing elections, both ruling and opposition parties will inevitably step up demands for a restructuring of the commission and greater transparency in election management systems. In particular, once it becomes clear at which stage of the system the false entries were made and who approved them, political battles over accountability are highly likely to intensify.

There are also expected to be growing calls for converting the ordering and replenishment of ballot papers to an automated system based on actual voter data. Election administration experts have long pointed out that the current structure, which relies on manual data entry, leaves room for similar incidents to recur.

Schedule and Outlook

The special prosecution team is expected to continue analyzing remaining seized materials and summoning those involved for questioning. As investigators work through the staff and managers responsible at the 36 commissions where false entries were confirmed, the entire process—how the ballots were ordered and how quantities were calculated—is likely to fall within the scope of the investigation.

For the election commission, the situation means shouldering both the investigation and questions of institutional accountability at the same time. It faces a dilemma: dismissing the false entries as individual mistakes would expose failures in organizational management, while acknowledging them as an organized decision would cost the institution its credibility. That is precisely where the weight of the number 36 lies. To borrow the saying that death reveals the great, this investigation is expected to uncover the reality of the manipulation piece by piece and lead to a broader reckoning within election administration.