People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok late on the night of the 3rd visited the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, and demanded a halt to the vote count for the Seoul mayoral election. But Chairperson Roh Tae-ak of the National Election Commission reportedly refused, saying, "It is a matter for the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission to decide."
Jang visited the National Election Commission to lodge a protest at about 10:30 p.m. that day. He sought to demand a halt to the count and to address ballot paper shortages that occurred across Seoul.
Meeting with Secretary-General Heo Cheol-hun, Jang said, "Those who voted after the vote-count broadcast would already have been influenced by the broadcast," adding, "It is completely impossible to gauge what effect this (ballot paper shortage) had, and because the election itself has already been seriously tainted, this is a matter that requires a revote."
Jang also met with Chairperson Roh Tae-ak and demanded a halt to the count. But Roh reportedly refused, saying that stopping the count is not within the authority of the National Election Commission.
Jang said, "We demanded a halt to the count, but the National Election Commission chairperson's answer was that it is not within the National Election Commission's authority," adding, "We were told that because it is for the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission to decide, the National Election Commission can do nothing."
Jang said, "It is difficult to gauge how many voters' suffrage was infringed," adding, "If voters' suffrage was infringed, that is naturally grounds to invalidate the election."
The People Power Party says that unless the Seoul mayoral vote count is halted, it will withdraw all party-affiliated election observers and file a lawsuit to invalidate the election.