Election watchdog to get tough with vote fraud rumormongers

General election 2024

Published: 09 Apr. 2024, 19:14 Updated: 09 Apr. 2024, 20:35

Election watchdog to get tough with vote fraud rumormongers

Election officials conduct final checks at a polling station in Pohang, North Gyeongsang, on Tuesday, the day before the general election. [NEWS1]

The head of the National Election Commission (NEC) said Tuesday that the watchdog plans to undertake “strong” action against people who spread claims of electoral fraud regarding early voting for the April 10 general election.

In his statement, NEC chief Roh Tae-ak said that the commission's response to recent unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud is intended to prevent such rumors from “undermining democracy.”

Roh stressed that the commission keeps the location of ballot boxes publicly available through 24-hour surveillance cameras to enhance “the transparency and credibility of the early voting system.” He also said strict inspections were conducted at polling stations after spy cameras were found concealed in early voting stations nationwide last month.

Ballots will also be hand-counted for the first time in 30 years to preempt suspicions of vote rigging.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, right, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visit a polling station in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Tuesday to ensure safe voting takes place the next day. [YONHAP]

With just one day remaining before Election Day, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo visited a polling station in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Tuesday afternoon and ordered “thorough management of voting procedures.”

“As we have seen in the early voting, the public is highly passionate about this year's general election,” Han said.

Over 13 million voters, or around 31 percent, cast their ballots over two days of early voting on Friday and Saturday, hitting a record-high figure for a general election.

“We need to exert every effort for a fair and transparent election as there are still more voters left to cast their ballots.”

The prime minister further stressed that not even a tiny mistake should occur, with the election commission closely cooperating with the National Police Agency, National Fire Agency and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Han visited the polling site with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Vice Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong and the chief of Jongno Ward, Chung Moon-hun.

After inspecting the voting site, the capital’s mayor encouraged voters to cast their ballots, saying that “everything is ready.” Oh wrote on a Facebook post following the visit that he had confirmed that every voting step was ready, adding that nearly 18,000 Seoul city government employees will help manage voting and counting ballots on Election Day.

A total of 2,257 voting stations have been set up in the capital.

A police officer watches surveillance cameras broadcasting ballot boxes from the early voting for the April 10 general election at the National Election Commission office in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Tuesday, a day ahead of Election Day. [YONHAP]

Meanwhile, the election commission said Tuesday it reported individuals who violated the Public Official Election Act to the police.

The South Gyeongsang branch of the NEC revealed that the commission had reported a voter who shared a photo of a ballot paper that the person cast on KakaoTalk on Friday.

The law prohibits photographing ballot papers at polling sites. Violators face up to two years in prison or fines of up to 4 million won ($2.950).

Another case was filed with the police after a voter ripped the ballot paper "out of anger" on Saturday.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]