Ballot shortage at June 3 local elections reaches 7,194 — 1.5 times initial count

Shortfall confirmed at 91 polling stations nationwide; Seoul accounts for 4,206 missing ballots; People Power Party demands accountability from election commission

Protesters demanding a re-election over the ballot shortage at the June 3 local elections hold signs outside the entrance to the Olympic Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday, where a sit-in blockade of the vote-counting center continues. (Yonhap)

By Seo Ji-yeon, The Herald Business

The total number of ballots found missing at polling stations nationwide during the June 3 local elections has reached 7,194 — about 1.5 times the figure the National Election Commission initially disclosed after the vote.

According to data the National Election Commission submitted to People Power Party lawmaker Jeong Hee-yong on Tuesday, 7,194 ballots were missing across 91 polling stations nationwide on election day.

The commission had previously said that as of June 5, 4,726 ballots were missing at 50 polling stations. Subsequent tallying added another 2,468 to that count.

By region, Seoul recorded the largest shortfall, with 4,206 missing ballots.

The single worst-affected site was Polling Station No. 7 in Jamsil 4-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, which was short 436 ballots. It was followed by Polling Station No. 4 in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (383 ballots); Polling Station No. 4 in Ganseok 1-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon (306 ballots); Polling Station No. 6 in Guui 3-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (278 ballots); and Polling Station No. 6 in Jangwi 1-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (277 ballots).

Polling Station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu — where access was blocked by protesters on election day — was also short 179 ballots.

Voting was suspended at 26 polling stations nationwide due to the shortage, for periods ranging from four minutes to 105 minutes.

Polling Station No. 4 in Dogok 2-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was shut for four minutes, while Polling Station No. 2 in Jamsil 2-dong, Songpa-gu, was unable to process voters for 105 minutes.

However, the National Election Commission said it could not confirm the exact duration of voting suspensions at three stations in Songpa-gu: Polling Station No. 2 in Munjeong 2-dong, Polling Station No. 5 in Jamsil 4-dong and Polling Station No. 7 in Jamsil 2-dong.

Lawmaker Jeong said the ballot shortage was an unprecedented crisis that violated citizens' right to vote. "The National Election Commission must be held strictly accountable for its incompetence and irresponsibility," he said.

He added that all available measures — including a special prosecutor investigation, a parliamentary investigation and legislative reform — should be pursued to establish the full truth and prevent a recurrence.

sjy@heraldcorp.com