Election Commission Criticized for 'Convenience' Proposals: Delay Early Voting, Reduce Ballots

South Korea's National Election Commission (NEC) faces criticism for prioritizing administrative convenience over voter accessibility, particularly concerning early voting procedures. A 2022 research report commissioned by the NEC, intended to improve election processes, revealed proposals that suggest a shift in focus from voter needs to staff comfort.

One striking suggestion from the report, titled 'Improvement Measures for Election Procedure Affairs - Focusing on Gu/Si/Gun Committee Procedure Affairs,' proposed delaying the start of early voting from the current 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. The rationale provided was the need for election staff to arrive two to three hours before the polls open. The report noted a "high demand" for adjusting the early voting hours, with staff preferring a later start but opposing a later end time.

Experts reportedly expressed negative views on this proposal even during the report's development. One political science expert argued that delaying the start time would be "undesirable" and fail to consider voters who wish to cast their ballots early and then proceed with their day. Despite these concerns, the research team suggested that the difference in start times could be justified by framing early voting as an exception to the principle of election day voting and by minimizing budget waste.

Furthermore, the NEC's decision to reduce the printing of ballots, allowing for only 50% or more of the voter count compared to the previous over 60%, has also drawn scrutiny. The report cited insufficient storage space for ballots after final inspection and packaging as a reason for this reduction. Instead of proposing solutions like expanding storage, the report concluded with a recommendation to decrease ballot printing. The NEC maintains the report is merely a reference, but its methodology, heavily relying on staff surveys, raises questions about accountability for the decisions made based on its findings.