Vote Statistics Manipulated in Gimpo, Uiwang, and Jincheon During June 3 Local Elections; Excess Inputs Dispersed and Adjusted

▲ Joint Investigation Headquarters Conducts Seizure and Search at National Election Commission

It has been confirmed that the National Election Commission incorrectly entered the number of voters in Jincheon-gun, North Chungcheong Province, and Uiwang and Gimpo in Gyeonggi Province during the June 3 local elections.

The National Election Commission reportedly explained in an explanatory document submitted to the National Assembly's Special Committee on the State Investigation into the June 3 Local Election Ballot Shortage Incident that it handled the incorrect entries by maintaining the previously disclosed total number of voters at the district level while adjusting the figures for each polling station.

Some town, township, and neighborhood election commissions mistakenly caused excessive voter inputs, and upon being inquired about how to handle the excessive inputs, the election management division official at the National Election Commission instructed provincial election commission officials on a method of dispersing and modifying the excessively entered amounts to other polling stations within the same town, township, or neighborhood.

The locations where incorrect voter entries occurred are the No. 2 Polling Station in Jincheon-eup, Jincheon-gun, North Chungcheong Province; the No. 3 Polling Station in Bugok-dong, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi Province; and the No. 2 Polling Station in Gurae-dong, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi Province.

Gimpo-si adjusted the figures by dispersing the excess voter inputs to other polling stations, while Jincheon-gun and Uiwang-si maintained the same figures until the number of voters exceeded the previously entered figures.

The Election Commission explained, "Although modifying the number of voters at the district level requires approval from the provincial election commission, the number of voters per polling station entered by towns, townships, and neighborhoods is provisional data for district-level reporting, so it can be modified without separate approval from the district election commission."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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