Calls for re-election grow as ballot shortage sites rise to 91; probe panel to launch Wednesday

Calls for a re-run of the June 3 local elections are mounting across the political spectrum as the number of polling stations confirmed to have run short of ballots has nearly doubled — from 50 to 91 — raising expectations of significant fallout ahead.

The National Election Commission said in a press release Monday that of 14,288 polling stations nationwide, 140 had received emergency ballot resupplies on election day, and 91 of those stations had in fact exhausted their original supply and used the additional ballots.

The NEC had announced on June 5 that 67 stations received supplementary ballots, with confirmed shortages at a minimum of 50 locations — 33 in Seoul, six in Incheon, four in Daegu, three in Busan, two in Ulsan and two in South Gyeongsang Province. At the time, 17 stations that received extra ballots were found not to have needed them.

A comprehensive survey conducted over the weekend pushed the Seoul figure to 42 and uncovered previously unreported cases — 23 in Gyeonggi Province, one each in North Chungcheong and North Jeolla provinces, and two each in South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces. The number of polling stations where voting was temporarily suspended due to ballot shortages also rose, from 22 to 26.

To investigate the cause and assign responsibility for the crisis, the NEC will operate a "Ballot Shortage Fact-Finding Committee" from Wednesday through June 19. All members are drawn from outside the commission to ensure objectivity and independence, with attorney Jo Hyeon-uk serving as chair.

The Supreme Court accepted the resignation of NEC Chairman Noh Tae-ak, with standing commissioner Wi Cheol-hwan taking over as acting chairman.

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok is calling for a nationwide re-election. Having argued Monday that a national-level re-vote was necessary in response to the ballot shortage, Jang held a press conference at the National Assembly on Tuesday and again said, "The only fundamental solution to this disenfranchisement crisis is ultimately a nationwide re-election."

The Reform Party said it would file a partial-invalidity petition targeting some polling stations in Seoul. Floor leader Cheon Ha-ram said, "The only solution is to selectively hold re-elections at the polling stations where ballots were actually insufficient."

Voices within the Democratic Party also raised the need for re-votes. Kim Hyeong-nam, former secretary-general of the Military Human Rights Center and a senior campaign official for Democratic Party Seoul mayoral candidate Jeong Won-o, called on the party to file an election petition.

Rep. Choi Min-hee said, "Let's hold re-elections only in the areas where ballots were problematic," while Rep. Park Seon-won said areas affected by the ballot issue should also face re-elections.