The National Assembly passed a motion for the investigation earlier in the day by a vote of 250–1, setting up a committee of ruling and opposition lawmakers to look into why ballot papers ran short at about 26 polling stations in Seoul and other areas during the June 3 local elections.
Chaired by lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), the committee will investigate for about 45 days until Aug. 1, with the possibility of an extension.
The scope of the investigation includes how a shortage of ballot papers occurred, as well as any administrative lapses and management flaws by the National Election Commission (NEC), which oversees the country's elections.
The probe will also examine when the NEC became aware of the shortage and whether its response was appropriate, along with possible voting rights violations including cases where some voters, mostly in southern Seoul, were unable to cast their ballots or faced delays on election day.
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