First Day Early Voting Rate 17.51% Highest Ever [6·3 Presidential Election]

On the first day of early voting for the 21st presidential election on the 29th, the voter turnout recorded 17.51% as of 5 PM, breaking the highest record ever.

The Central Election Management Committee announced that as of 5 PM on this day, 17.51% of the total 44,391,871 eligible voters had completed voting, which is 1.67%p higher than the first day early voting rate of the 20th presidential election.

With the early voting rate breaking the highest record from the first day, there is a growing possibility that it will surpass the highest early voting rate record of 36.93% from the 20th presidential election. This presidential election's early voting will continue until 6 PM on the 30th. By region, Jeonnam showed the highest early voting rate at 32.02%, while Daegu recorded the lowest early voting rate nationwide at 11.95%.

Typically, early voting tends to have a high participation rate among the younger generation of 2030s and middle-aged 4050s who prefer to vote early. Their support rate is relatively inclined towards progressive parties, and in these age groups, the early voting rate is reported to be 5~10%p higher than the main voting. On the other hand, the conservative support base, such as those in their 60s and older, tends to focus on voting on the main voting day rather than early voting.

Major presidential candidates encouraged their supporters to participate in voting as they engaged in early voting on this day. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, exercised his voting rights with four young people at the Sinchon-dong Community Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, visited the Gyeyang 1-dong Community Center in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, with his daughter Kim Dong-joo to participate in early voting.

hjkim01@fnnews.com Kim Hak-jae Reporter