Ansan Ballot Found at Seongnam Counting Station; Election Commission Voids Vote

An election counting station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, experienced a ballot mix-up during the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections on June 3rd. A ballot for the Ansan City Council proportional representation election was discovered among ballots for Seongnam.

The misplaced ballot was reportedly found inside a return envelope for absentee votes from outside the region, mixed with legitimate ballots for the Seongnam mayoral race. Election officials declared the ballot void, leading to a disturbance at the venue that required police intervention. However, police reportedly withdrew from the scene, deeming it an internal election commission matter.

The exact circumstances leading to the Ansan ballot reaching the Seongnam counting station remain unclear. This incident has amplified public distrust in the National Election Commission (NEC), particularly as it follows reports of ballot shortages in several electoral districts on the same day. The combination of these issues has fueled criticism regarding the NEC's competence and reliability.