NEC issues public apology, saying it deeply regrets damaging trust in fair election management

\r\n\r\nHeo Cheol-hoon, Secretary-General of the National Election Commission (NEC), said on the 3rd that he deeply regrets and sincerely apologizes for damaging public trust in fair election management over the shortage of ballot papers during the voting process for the 9th nationwide local elections.
Heo held an on-site briefing at 9 p.m. that day at the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, and issued a public apology. The move came after some polling stations ran short of ballot papers on election day, forcing voters to wait for long periods or causing delays in voting.
According to the NEC, some polling stations in Songpa District, Seoul, Gangnam District, and Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, ran short of prepared ballot papers that day. Earlier, it was reported that voters had to wait at some polling stations, including the No. 6 Polling Station in Jamsil 2-dong, Songpa District, from around 1 p.m. because ballot papers were insufficient. Around 4:30 p.m., there were also reports from the field that voting had been suspended at some polling stations.
The NEC said it immediately sent additional ballot papers to polling stations that were short of them once it became aware of the problem. It also said it instructed and guided voters already waiting at those stations so they could vote normally even after the official closing time.
Earlier in the afternoon, the NEC said in a notice that "turnout in the 9th local elections is higher than in the previous election, so some polling stations in Songpa District are short of prepared ballot papers, and the Songpa District Election Commission is currently transferring additional ballot papers to those stations." It added, "Voters who are waiting will still be able to vote normally even after the closing time," and said, "We hope there will be no misunderstanding that voting will not be possible today because of the shortage of ballot papers."
However, the shortage of ballot papers reportedly led to longer waiting times at some polling stations, and some voters are said to have left without voting. Although the NEC pointed to higher turnout as the background, it appears difficult to avoid criticism that it failed to adequately anticipate voting demand on election day.
The NEC said, "We take this matter very seriously," adding, "As soon as the vote count is completed, we will identify the exact causes and problems behind the shortage of ballot papers at some polling stations and prepare measures to prevent a recurrence."
Heo said, "We are sorry once again for disappointing the public with insufficient preparation and response."
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spring@fnnews.com Lee Bo-mi Reporter