The National Election Commission hosted a meeting on June 20 to discuss details of July 30 Repeat/By-elections to be held on the largest scale ever for members of the National Assembly. Approx. 50 persons attended the meeting, including executives of the Si/Do and Gu/Si/Gun election commissions in the relevant 14 districts confirmed to hold repeat/by-elections.

p  The NEC promoting in various ways to increase the voter turnout

The NEC ordered Si/Do and Gu/Si/Gun election commissions to promote the upcoming repeat/by-elections to be held on July 30 in effective ways that suit the circumstances of each local district as the elections are held on weekdays and many will leave on holiday resulting in a low turnout.

In particular, the NEC ordered that the following be done:

-   Promote early voting to those not able to vote on election day;

-   Promote to the agencies and corporations within the relevant jurisdictions the guaranteeing of voting hours for their employees and request their cooperation for adjusting punch in/out time on election day; and

-   Organize a ‘promotion group to encourage participation in voting’, such as conducting campaigns at public places, hosting an event where people can try out voting, etc.

To create an atmosphere of voting, the NEC is also planning to issue a certificate of voting to those who have voted and arrange space for voters to take photos proving that they have voted while encouraging such businesses as department stores, discount shops, traditional markets, restaurants, cinemas, etc. to offer Election Sale that gives a discount to those participating in voting as part of profit-making activities.

However, the NEC is determined to take strict action in accordance with the law against cases where incentives are given in favor of specific political parties or candidates.

p  Guaranteed public participation in the entire voting and counting process to ensure transparency and reliability of election management

The NEC is going to actively guarantee participation by the public or civic groups in the entire voting/counting process on election day as well as early voting for the upcoming repeat/by-elections to enhance transparency and reliability of election management.

Anyone submitting an application to the relevant Gu/Si/Gun election commission may observe the entire process of voting management, including (early) poll opening/progress/closing, the handing over/taking over/delivery of (early) ballot boxes, the storing of the (early) ballot boxes, etc. and get directly involved in the counting process as a counting staff. The NEC, in particular, is planning to encourage groups/voters having doubts about the voting/counting process to participate in voting.

In addition, for the districts in which the location of polling stations has changed due to unavoidable reasons such as school classes, etc. with election day not being a public holiday, the NEC ordered to put up banners that show changes in polling stations, etc. at the entrance of the previous polling stations or nearby roads to enable voters to find their polling station without difficulty.

Meanwhile, July 30 Repeat/By-elections are going to be held in the districts where the cause for an election occurred between October 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014.