NEC chief was briefed on ballot-reduction policy 6 months before local elections, lawmaker says

Former National Election Commission Chairman Noh Tae-ak was briefed six months before the June 3 local elections on the guideline to print ballots at a 50 percent minimum — the policy blamed for the ballot shortage — People Power Party Rep. Kim Eun-hye said Friday.

Kim said the finding contradicts the conclusion of the Committee to Investigate the Truth Behind the Ballot Shortage, which had said Noh had not been briefed on the matter in advance.

In a written response to Kim's inquiry — which asked for a full account of all decisions, discussions and approvals made by NEC commissioners and standing members regarding the production and distribution of ballots for the local elections — the NEC said the guideline revision "was included in a review of proposed amendments to the Rules on the Administration of Public Elections, which was reported at the 15th commission meeting held on Nov. 24, 2025."

That revision contained a provision reducing the minimum number of ballots to be printed for local elections to 50 percent of the eligible voter count.

Noh and standing commissioner Wi Cheol-hwan attended the meeting.

Taken together, the NEC's responses indicate that the 50 percent reduction guideline had already been reported to Noh at that meeting — roughly two weeks to a month before the comprehensive management guidelines and procedural manual were formally revised.

However, the NEC told Kim that the ballot-reduction provision — "50 percent (lower limit) for local elections" — occupied less than one page of a 42-page document and had not been reported as a separate agenda item, meaning no dedicated discussion took place.

The NEC had previously disclosed that it lowered the minimum ballot-printing threshold from 60 percent to 50 percent of eligible voters through two administrative approvals: the "9th Local Election Comprehensive Management Guidelines," finalized by the secretary-general on Dec. 10 last year, and the "Public Election Procedural Manual," approved by the director of election policy on Dec. 24 of the same year.