South Korea Election Commission: Voters at Polls Past Deadline Can Vote

Voters in South Korea who are waiting in line when the polling station officially closes will still be allowed to cast their ballots, according to the National Election Commission. This clarification comes amid reports of disruptions during the June 3 local elections.

Specifically, some polling stations in the Songpa-gu district of Seoul faced a shortage of ballot papers. This situation led to temporary halts in voting at these locations. The commission acknowledged the issue, attributing it to a higher voter turnout than anticipated for the 9th local elections.

To address the ballot shortage, the National Election Commission is actively working to transfer additional ballot papers to the affected polling stations in Songpa-gu. The commission emphasized that voters already present and waiting at the time of the deadline will be permitted to vote normally, ensuring their participation is not disenfranchised by the logistical challenges.