Early voting for the 9th nationwide local elections will be held on the 29th and 30th for two days from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 3,751 early voting stations nationwide. The early voting turnout for local elections has hovered around 20% each time. Here is a summary of how to do early voting and what to watch out for.
◇Bring only an ID, and go to any nearby early voting station
Voters can cast ballots at any nearby early voting station from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the early voting period. The locations of early voting stations can be checked on the National Election Commission website.
When going to vote, you must bring an ID issued by a government office or public institution that can verify your identity with your date of birth and photo, such as a resident registration card, passport, or driver's license. A mobile ID can be used as identification if you run the app so the photo, name, and date of birth can be verified, but saved images such as screenshots cannot be used.
Because early voting uses the integrated voter list, you can vote at any early voting station nationwide regardless of residence. For election day voting on the 3rd of next month, you can vote only at the polling station designated for your address.
Inside early voting stations, voter routes are divided into within-jurisdiction and outside-jurisdiction. Voters within the jurisdiction—those voting within the constituency for district, city, or county council elections based on where the early voting station is installed—need only receive the ballot, mark it, and place it in the ballot box.
Outside-jurisdiction voters receive a return envelope along with the ballot. After marking the ballot, outside-jurisdiction early voters must place the ballot in the return envelope and then put it in the ballot box.
Each voter receives seven ballots: ▲ metropolitan/provincial governor ▲ superintendent of education ▲ district/city/county head ▲ constituency metropolitan/provincial council member ▲ constituency district/city/county council member ▲ proportional representation metropolitan/provincial council member ▲ proportional representation district/city/county council member. In Sejong and Jeju, where there are no basic local government head and basic council elections, voters receive four ballots: ▲ metropolitan/provincial governor ▲ superintendent of education ▲ constituency metropolitan/provincial council member ▲ proportional representation metropolitan/provincial council member.
In areas where National Assembly by-elections are held simultaneously, one more ballot is added for a maximum of eight. In Seogwipo, Jeju, there is no basic local government head election, but there is a by-election, so voters receive five ballots.
◇Take your voting proof photo "outside" the polling station
You cannot take proof photos inside the polling station. Voting proof photos can be taken outside the polling station building, and you may use signs or photo zones installed at the entrance.
It is also allowed to post or send online, on social media, or by text message a voting proof photo showing a finger sign for a number, or a message encouraging participation in voting together with a background photo of a specific candidate's campaign poster or promotional material.
It is strictly prohibited to photograph a ballot and post or send it on social media. Violations may be punished by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 4 million won.
On any ballot, you must mark only one candidate for the vote to be valid. However, marking multiple times within a single candidate's box is considered valid. Ballots marked with the voter's personal seal or a writing instrument instead of the NEC's official marking tool are invalid. Voters cannot receive a replacement ballot for reasons such as marking incorrectly or damaging the ballot.
◇CCTV of early ballot box storage sites open 24 hours
The National Election Commission will make CCTV of early ballot box storage sites available 24 hours to prevent controversy over early voting. The National Election Commission said, "The CCTV uses video encryption and anti-tampering technology to ensure transparency and integrity in storage and management, and the integrated control center installed in the NEC's election situation room continuously monitors storage conditions."
The progress of early voting is disclosed every hour on the election statistics system. Nationwide, a fair election observation group of 13 teams and 105 people will monitor the early voting process across the country, and more than 1,100 police officers will be deployed to some 300 early voting stations over the two days.