The early voting rate for the 9th nationwide local elections reached a record high of 23.51% on the 30th.
According to the National Election Commission, a provisional tally showed that 10,498,411 out of 44,649,908 eligible voters participated in early voting held from 6 a.m. on the 29th to 6 p.m. on the 30th.
This is 2.89 percentage points higher than the previous record high of 20.62% in early voting for the 8th local elections in 2022. However, the highest early voting rate among elections held since the early voting system was introduced is 36.93%, recorded in the 20th presidential election.
By date, the early voting rate was 11.6% on the first day, the 29th, and 11.91% on the second day, the 30th.
Among the 17 cities and provinces nationwide, South Jeolla posted the highest turnout at 38.95%, followed by North Jeolla (35.05%), Gwangju (27.83%), and Sejong (27.67%).
Daegu, meanwhile, recorded the lowest turnout at 18.65%, followed by Gyeonggi (20.96%), Busan (21.29%), and Incheon (21.62%). Seoul's early voting rate was 23.84%.
Since the early voting system was first introduced for nationwide elections in the 6th local elections in 2014, the early voting rate has steadily increased. The 6th local elections recorded 11.49%, and the 7th local elections in 2018 recorded 20.14%. In general elections, the 21st general election in 2020 recorded 26.69%, and the 22nd general election in 2024 recorded an early voting rate of 31.28%.
With early voting posting a record high turnout, attention is turning to turnout in election day voting to be held on Jun. 3. There have been only two instances of election day turnout in local elections exceeding 60%. The 1st local elections in 1995 recorded the all-time high for local elections at 68.4%, and the 7th local elections in 2018 ended with a turnout of 60.2%. However, despite an early voting rate exceeding 20% in the 8th local elections, final turnout was only 50.9%.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly by-elections and rerun elections held in a total of 14 districts alongside the local elections ended with an early voting rate of 24.12%.
By district, Gunsan–Gimje–Buan in North Jeolla was highest at 42.59%, followed by Gongju–Buyeo–Cheongyang in South Chungcheong (30.16%) and Gunsan–Gimje–Buan A in North Jeolla (29.71%). Daegu Dalseong, meanwhile, recorded the lowest turnout at 17.56%.
In Busan Buk A, a key battleground in these by-elections and rerun elections, the early voting rate was 25.57%, and in Pyeongtaek B in Gyeonggi it was 18.39%.