A joint investigation team has been formed to probe allegations surrounding the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections. The team is focusing on when the Election Commission became aware of the potential for a ballot shortage, how it responded, and whether the reporting and decision-making processes were appropriate.
According to legal sources on June 17, the investigation team, consisting of 27 members, has begun its work at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutors and police have completed the setup of their network and data transfer, and are now accelerating the analysis of seized materials and witness interviews.
The team is analyzing materials obtained from seven locations, including the Central Election Commission and the Seoul Election Commission, during searches conducted on June 11. The seized documents reportedly include ballot printing plans, service reports, related meeting minutes, and budget execution records. Investigators are examining how the number of ballots was determined and who made those decisions.
A key focus of the investigation is whether the Election Commission recognized the risk of a ballot shortage in advance but failed to take appropriate action.
According to findings from the Truth Investigation Committee, the Songpa District Election Commission and the Seoul Election Commission reportedly identified the possibility of a ballot shortage on the morning of election day. However, a coordinated response with the Central Election Commission did not occur until after 5 p.m., while some polling places had already suspended voting around 4 p.m.
The investigation team is working to reconstruct the reporting system and response process from that day. They have begun interviewing poll workers at the second polling station in Jamsil 7-dong and are investigating staff involved in election operations, aiming to clarify the reporting routes and decision-making processes based on the materials and testimonies gathered.
Particularly, the team is looking into the reasons behind the reduced number of ballots printed. The Election Commission reportedly adjusted the printing standard for ballots in this election from 60% of the number of registered voters to 50%. The investigation team plans to verify the procedures followed for this decision and whether there were any issues with the supply of emergency unnumbered ballots.
Legal experts highlight that the investigation's critical points are the 'prior awareness' and 'neglect' of the situation. To apply charges such as dereliction of duty, it must be established that officials recognized the risks and failed to take necessary actions, rather than simply committing administrative errors. Consequently, the investigation team is paying close attention to the gap between the initial reporting time on election day and the subsequent actions taken.
As the analysis of seized materials and staff investigations progress, the team is expected to expand its inquiry to higher-ranking officials. Currently, No Tae-ak, the former chairman of the Central Election Commission, and Heo Cheol-hoon, the former secretary-general, are banned from leaving the country due to allegations of dereliction of duty. The investigation team is reviewing whether to summon them based on the results of the staff investigations.
The scope of the investigation is also widening. The team is considering ways to secure certain ballot records stored at the Olympic Park counting site, which has been occupied by protesters. Additionally, they plan to investigate allegations of evidence destruction and dereliction of duty related to the disposal of ballot storage boxes at the second polling station in Jamsil 7-dong.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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