Photo : KBS News
The country’s election watchdog says the shortage of ballots at voting centers in parts of Seoul during the June 3 local elections does not constitute grounds for a postponement of election or a reelection under the Public Official Election Act.
The National Election Commission(NEC) announced its conclusion in a statement following an emergency session that began at 12:00 a.m. Thursday, and said it would be impossible to halt an ongoing vote count.
On Wednesday, ballots fell short at some voting centers in Seoul’s Songpa, Gangnam and Gwanjin districts, forcing voters to wait in line to cast their ballots even after exit polls were released.
The main opposition People Power Party(PPP) had demanded the vote count to be suspended and for reelections to be held in Seoul.
PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok, who visited the election watchdog headquarters, expressed a strong regret over the decision and said he would fight with the public until the end.