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🇰🇷 South Korea /Crime & Justice

South Korean voter reported for attempting to vote twice

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A voter in Mokpo, South Korea, has been reported to election authorities for allegedly voting twice in the recent local elections.
  • The individual is accused of casting a ballot during the early voting period and then attempting to vote again on the official election day.
  • Election officials stated that the voter's attempt was quickly identified due to markings on the voter registry, preventing a successful double vote.

South Korean election authorities have reported a voter in Mokpo to the police for allegedly casting a ballot twice during the recent 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections. The individual, identified only as 'A,' is accused of voting during the early voting period on May 29 and then attempting to cast another vote at a polling station in Mokpo on June 3, the official election day.

The voter registry indicates if early voting has been done on election day voting.

— Jeonnam Provincial Election Commission officialExplaining how the attempt at double voting was detected.

Under South Korean election law, voting more than once in the same election is strictly prohibited and considered a violation of the Public Official Election Act. Such offenses can lead to penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won (approximately $7,200 USD).

Mr. A seems to have intended to double vote and came during a busy time when election officials might have made a mistake.

— Jeonnam Provincial Election Commission officialSpeculating on the suspect's strategy and the circumstances of the attempted double vote.

Officials from the Jeonnam Provincial Election Commission explained that the attempt at double voting was detected because the voter registry clearly indicates whether an individual has already participated in early voting. The suspect reportedly visited the polling station during a busy period, hoping that election officials might overlook the pre-existing mark on the registry. However, the election worker on duty noticed the notation and promptly reported the incident.

The election worker quickly recognized the double voting and reported it to the election commission, allowing us to find Mr. A quickly.

— Jeonnam Provincial Election Commission officialDetailing the swift action taken by election staff to identify and report the violation.

While the voter's intention was to cast a second ballot, the quick identification by the election worker prevented a successful double vote. The Election Commission emphasized that the worker's action was not a result of intentional misconduct but rather a procedural error during a high-traffic period. The incident highlights the vigilance of election officials in maintaining the integrity of the voting process, even amidst the complexities of managing large numbers of voters.

The worker did not intentionally commit double voting; it seems to have been a mistake.

— Jeonnam Provincial Election Commission officialClarifying that the election worker's oversight was unintentional.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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