Key decisions regarding ballot paper allocation for the recent local elections were made by just two administrative officials, bypassing the full election committee. This has led to accusations that the committee members were merely figureheads.
The Central Election Management Commission reportedly lowered the minimum threshold for ballot paper printing from 60% of eligible voters to 50% in the lead-up to the June 3rd local elections. This critical decision was allegedly made through the executive authority of the Secretary-General and the Director of the Election Policy Department, without a full committee meeting.
Following this directive, local election commissions then determined their own ballot paper printing standards. In areas experiencing the most severe ballot paper shortages, such as Songpa District in Seoul, the decision to print at 50% (or 60% in two districts) was reportedly made via written submissions, bypassing formal meetings.
Executive Authority Overrides Committee Decisions
Documents submitted to the National Assembly indicate that the Central Election Management Commission amended the policy for the number of ballot papers to be printed for the main elections on December 10th of last year. This change, reducing the threshold from 60% to 50%, was reportedly made through an executive decision by the Secretary-General. This adjustment was made in response to the increasing trend of early voting.
The revised election procedures, reflecting this change, were then distributed to election commissions nationwide, again through an executive decision by the Director of the Election Policy Department. While the Central Election Management Commission is typically composed of members appointed by the President, the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice, who make final decisions through committee meetings, the standard for printing ballot papers was set by the commission’s administrative office.
Kim Seung-soo, a Member of the People Power Party, criticized this process, stating, “Important matters were decided through executive decisions, rendering the election committee members little more than figureheads.”
Ballot Paper Shortages Plagued Polling Stations
The issue of ballot paper shortages continued at polling stations across the country. On June 3rd, 1,371 polling stations, representing 9.6% of the total 14,288 nationwide, reported insufficient ballot paper supplies; they did not meet the 50% threshold of eligible voters.
In Songpa District, Seoul, voting was suspended at one polling station at 2:20 PM due to a lack of ballot papers. However, the instruction to deliver additional ballots was not issued until 5:10 PM.
The Special Committee for Fact-Finding on Election Management confirmed that there was no established manual for election commissions to handle ballot paper shortages.
In many districts where ballot papers were scarce, the election commissions, composed of party-nominated individuals and appointed officials, reportedly approved the draft proposals prepared by the commission’s permanent staff without significant review. In Songpa and Gwangjin districts in Seoul, where shortages were most acute, decisions were made via written submissions without holding formal meetings.
