The National Assembly completed the reporting process for a demand for a national investigation into the ballot shortage that occurred during the June 3 local elections. Both ruling and opposition parties have deemed the incident serious and emphasized the need for a swift investigation, prompting the Assembly to move quickly toward reforming the National Election Commission.
On the morning of June 11, the Assembly held a plenary session to report the investigation demands related to the ballot shortage submitted by both parties.
Speaker Cho Jung-sik stated, "Both negotiating groups have submitted demands for a national investigation regarding the ballot shortage. Elections are the foundation of democracy. The incidents that occurred during this local election have undermined citizens' fundamental rights and eroded trust in election administration."
He added, "I hope that through this investigation, we can accurately diagnose the issues within the current election management system and establish comprehensive improvement measures to ensure a trustworthy electoral system for the public."
Previously, on June 8, the Democratic Party and the People Power Party each submitted demands for a national investigation into the ballot shortage.
The Democratic Party's demand, led by floor leader Han Byung-do, focuses on several key areas: the legality and adequacy of the criteria and review process for determining the number of ballots printed; the circumstances surrounding the shortage of ballots at polling places; the appropriateness of the response measures taken; the investigation into the closure of polling stations and administrative paralysis; and the need for reforms in election management guidelines and systems to prevent recurrence.
The People Power Party, represented by floor operation chief Yoo Sang-bum, outlined its demand to investigate the causes and circumstances of the ballot shortage, the simultaneous voting and counting process, the decision to halt counting, the extent of voter rights violations due to the ballot shortage, the circumstances surrounding the exit poll announcements before voting ended, the police's handling of public violence, and the National Election Commission's dereliction of duty.
Both parties agree on the necessity of a thorough investigation into the incident. However, they differ on the composition of the special committee for the national investigation, with the Democratic Party advocating for appointments based on the proportional representation of negotiating and non-negotiating parties, while the People Power Party insists on equal representation.
Additionally, during the plenary session, the oath of office for lawmaker Kim Sung-beom, who was absent due to personal reasons during the previous session on June 5, was administered, and the establishment of a special committee on climate crisis was also approved.
Kim stated, "Politics should safeguard the lives and happiness of the people, and I will seek the wisdom of my senior lawmakers to address these challenges."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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