The Incheon Metropolitan Election Commission apologized on the 4th over a ballot shortage that occurred in Yeonsu District on the main polling day of the 9th nationwide local elections (June 3 local elections).
The Incheon commission said, "We apologize for the ballot shortage on election day," adding, "We caused inconvenience to citizens who came to the polling stations to exercise their precious sovereignty."
The Incheon commission explained, "We calculated the number of ballots to be printed based on 50% of registered voters, taking into account the expected early voting rate and turnout in recent elections," adding, "However, at the polling stations in question, the number of election-day voters surged relative to expectations, leading to a ballot shortage."
According to the Incheon commission, voting was delayed the previous afternoon at the Songdo 5-dong No. 1 polling station and the Dongchun 1-dong No. 6 polling station due to a shortage of ballots. At the Songdo 5-dong No. 1 polling station, around 5:33 p.m. on the 3rd, ballots ran short and about 70 voters had to wait around 20 minutes until additional ballots were delivered.
At the Dongchun 1-dong No. 6 polling station, a shortage was anticipated and additional ballots were received around 4:36 p.m. on the 3rd, but those, too, were exhausted, delaying voting by about 10 minutes. After more ballots were sent, about 70 waiting voters finished voting.
The Incheon commission said, "We thank the voters who did not leave and participated in voting even while waiting," adding, "We once again deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused to citizens who came to the polling stations to exercise their precious sovereignty."