Lee Jun-seok slams proposal to abolish early voting as 'brazenness'

Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok on Thursday strongly criticized the ruling People Power Party's proposal to abolish early voting. Lee labeled the suggestion an "act of utter brazenness" for seeking to reduce citizens' voting opportunities.

Lee's remarks came in response to a statement by People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, who advocated for the abolition of early voting. Lee pointed out the irony of proposing to limit voting access as a solution to issues like insufficient ballot papers, which he argued infringes upon the right to vote.

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Reducing the opportunity for citizens to vote itself is an act of utter brazenness.

"Early voting was introduced as a replacement for the cumbersome absentee voting process," Lee explained. "It serves as a final safeguard for young people who cannot easily change their addresses due to short-term work or studies, protecting their vote." He also noted that early voting was a system adopted during the Park Geun-hye administration with bipartisan agreement.

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Early voting was introduced as a replacement for the cumbersome absentee voting process. It serves as a final safeguard for young people who cannot easily change their addresses due to short-term work or studies, protecting their vote.

Lee challenged proponents of abolition to "boldly introduce a bill and hold public hearings for discussion." He added, "If you want to abolish early voting, you must prove that the conspiracy theory of early voting being a channel for election fraud is not a conspiracy theory in a public forum."

He further accused the People Power Party of becoming a party solely focused on election fraud conspiracies, likening it to a party led by former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn. Lee also suggested that the party's embrace of such theories indicated a surrender of its responsibility as a political entity.

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If you want to abolish early voting, you must prove that the conspiracy theory of early voting being a channel for election fraud is not a conspiracy theory in a public forum.