Election Commission's unilateral decision led to ballot shortage

A critical decision to reduce the printing of ballots for the recent local elections to 50% of registered voters was made unilaterally by the Central Election Commission's Secretary-General, bypassing a full committee vote. This move, which lowered the minimum print ratio from a previous 60%, has been identified as a key factor in the widespread ballot shortage experienced across South Korea.

The reduction in ballot printing has been a progressive trend. The minimum print ratio was 80% in 2009, lowered to 70% in 2016, then to 60% in 2021, and finally set to 50% for future elections starting in 2025. The latest reduction was implemented in December last year through the Secretary-General's authority, based on research from the Korea Institute of Public Administration and a task force on procedural improvements.

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The minimum print ratio for ballots can be adjusted to 50% (lower limit) based on committee resolution if there is a recognized need for reduced printing, considering the expected advance voting rate and recent voter turnout.

Compounding the issue, the Election Commission admitted to a complete lack of preparedness for ballot shortages. The commission reported that specific procedures and role assignments for such situations were absent, leading to inadequate and slow communication when the problem arose. This oversight affected 91 polling stations across the country, including 42 in Seoul and 23 in Gyeonggi Province.

The actual percentage of ballots prepared varied by region and district committee decisions. While the national average was 58%, some districts like Songpa and Gwangjin in Seoul printed only 50%, while others like Eunpyeong and Gangnam prepared 55%. This inconsistency further exacerbated the shortage problems.

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There were no specific guidelines for handling ballot shortages, and prompt situation reporting was insufficient.