Record Early Voting Rate Complicates Strategies for Parties Ahead of Local Elections

As early voting for the June 3 local elections and National Assembly by-elections reached a record high, both ruling and opposition parties are recalibrating their strategies. The Democratic Party and the People Power Party are expected to analyze regional early voting rates to adjust their campaign tactics in the remaining days before the election.

According to the National Election Commission on May 31, 10,498,411 out of 44,649,908 eligible voters participated in early voting held on May 29 and 30, resulting in a preliminary turnout rate of 23.51%. This figure is 2.89 percentage points higher than the previous record of 20.62% from four years ago.

In Seoul, a key battleground, 23.84% of voters cast their ballots early, an increase of 2.64 percentage points from 21.20% four years ago. The highest early voting rate in the country was recorded in Jeollanam-do at 38.95%, while Daegu had the lowest at 18.65%.

With the high early voting turnout, both parties are busy calculating their potential advantages and strategizing for the future. The Democratic Party believes the increased participation will work in their favor. Democratic Party spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun stated to reporters, "This reflects a political judgment against the insurrectionist forces and a willingness to support the Lee administration's governance."

Conversely, the People Power Party is taking a more cautious approach. Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk emphasized during a press conference that they need to examine which regions had higher early voting rates and analyze age-specific turnout rates that have not yet been disclosed. He added, "It is difficult to determine the advantages or disadvantages for each party based solely on the fact that early voting rates have slightly increased compared to the last local elections."

Political analysts predict that both parties will focus their efforts on developing election strategies based on early voting analysis. There is a significant possibility that undecided voters and those disappointed with the political landscape did not participate in early voting, prompting parties to target the center and encourage potential supporters who may have abstained to head to the polls.

Democratic Party Secretary General Cho Seung-rae stated at a press conference, "The foundation of our election strategy remains the same in the remaining period. This election is fundamentally about voting to encourage, support, and cheer for President Lee Jae-myung, and judging the incompetence of the People Power Party in regions like Seoul and Busan, where they have been in charge for four years."

On the other hand, Leader Jang emphasized, "We will focus on ensuring that the public, especially the younger generation in their 20s and 30s, come out to vote. It is crucial to motivate voters who have decided to support the People Power Party, as well as those disappointed with the ruling party and the Lee administration, to participate in the election."