South Korea Election Commission Rejects Revote After Ballot Shortages

The National Election Commission (NEC) rejected demands for a revote or postponement of local elections after ballot shortages disrupted voting on June 3, 2026. Shortages occurred at 14 polling stations across Seoul's Songpa, Gangnam, and Gwangjin districts, as well as two stations in Incheon's Yeonsu District. In Songpa-gu, the NEC admitted it had printed ballots for only 50 percent of eligible voters, attributing the failure to higher-than-expected turnout. To accommodate delayed voters, the NEC extended polling hours until 10 p.m. in affected areas.

The crisis triggered a political standoff. The opposition People Power Party demanded an immediate halt to vote counting and a new election in Seoul, arguing the fairness of the vote was compromised. Protesters and YouTubers in Songpa District escalated the situation by blocking the transport of two ballot boxes containing approximately 14,000 votes. Meanwhile, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea criticized the mismanagement but dismissed the opposition's calls for a revote as unwarranted.

NEC Secretary-General Heo Cheol-hoon issued a public apology and pledged a full investigation via an independent committee of outside experts. Despite the protests, the NEC determined that the shortages did not meet the legal criteria for a reelection under the Public Official Election Act and proceeded with the final tally. Provisional turnout for the nationwide local elections reached 61 percent, the second-highest in the country's history.