South Korea's National Election Commission said a shortage of ballot papers is not a reason to postpone an election or hold a re-election [1, 2].
The statement comes as the commission seeks to maintain the legitimacy of the ninth [2] nationwide simultaneous local elections. Any decision to delay or repeat a vote could trigger widespread political instability and undermine public trust in the democratic process.
The issue became prominent at polling stations, specifically at the Jamsil 7-dong 2 [1, 2] location. The commission said the shortage caused disruptions for voters attempting to cast their ballots.
An Election Commission spokesperson said, "Ballot paper shortage is not a reason for election postponement or re-election" [1]. The spokesperson said, "We deeply feel the responsibility for disappointing voters due to our mistake" [1].
To address the specific issues at the Jamsil 7-dong 2 polling station, the spokesperson said the commission would not force the transport of the ballot box [1]. This measure aims to ensure that the integrity of the remaining votes is preserved while the commission investigates the cause of the shortage.
The National Election Commission pledged to conduct a full investigation into how the shortage occurred. Officials said they will implement preventive measures to ensure that such logistical failures do not recur in future electoral cycles [1, 2].
The commission's refusal to call for a re-election suggests that the scale of the shortage was deemed insufficient to alter the overall outcome of the local contests. However, the admission of a "mistake" indicates a rare public acknowledgment of administrative failure by the body.
“"Ballot paper shortage is not a reason for election postponement or re-election"”
The National Election Commission is attempting to balance administrative accountability with the need for electoral finality. By admitting a mistake but refusing a re-vote, the commission is signaling that the error was a localized logistical failure rather than a systemic breach of electoral integrity. This approach seeks to prevent legal challenges that could freeze local government transitions.
