NEC to Hold 9 p.m. Briefing on Ballot Shortage, Issue Public Apology [June 3 Election]

[Financial News] The National Election Commission (NEC) will issue a public apology over the ballot shortage that occurred at some polling stations in Seoul's Songpa-gu and Gangnam District on June 3, when the main voting for the June 3 local elections was held.
According to the NEC on June 3, ballot shortages were reported at polling stations in Seoul's Songpa-gu, Gangnam District and Gwangjin District. The NEC said it will hold a briefing at 9 p.m., where the secretary-general will explain the circumstances and offer a public apology.
In a notice released in the afternoon, the NEC said, "Turnout in the 9th local elections was higher than in the previous election, so some polling stations in Songpa-gu ran short of prepared ballots, and the Songpa District Election Commission is now transporting ballots to those stations." It added, "Voters who are waiting will still be able to vote normally even after the official closing time. We hope there will be no misunderstanding that voting cannot take place today because of the shortage."
Earlier in the day, starting around 1 p.m., some polling stations, including Polling Station 6 in Jamsil 2-dong, Songpa-gu, saw voters waiting because of a shortage of ballots, and voting was reportedly suspended from 4:30 p.m. Although the Songpa District Election Commission delivered ballots to the affected stations, waiting times grew longer at some polling places, and some voters were reportedly forced to leave without voting.

spring@fnnews.com Lee Bo-mi Reporter