According to the National Election Commission, overseas voting for the 18^th Presidential Election will be held from December 5 to 10 at 164 polling stations established in 110 countries. Overseas missions in New Zealand and Fiji (2 hours ahead of Korea) will be the starting point and 222,389 eligible overseas voters will cast their votes.

Polling stations established at overseas missions will be open from 8 am to 5 pm every day, even on public holidays. The number of eligible overseas voters, however, will affect the number of days the polling stations are open for overseas voting. 120 overseas polling stations will be open for 6 days, 4 overseas polling stations for 5days (Dec. 6 to 10) and 31 overseas polling stations for 4 days (Dec. 7 to 10). Overseas voters need to read the overseas voting guide before visiting polling stations as they are open for a different number of days and they are not necessarily established at overseas missions.

Overseas voters may visit their nearest overseas polling station with their IDs, where they will be given ballot papers to mark. An acceptable ID includes a passport, a resident registration cards, a public official’s identification card, a driver’s license, a certificate of alien registration, etc. which shows a photo, a name and a date of birth to verify one’s identity. The details on one’s ID such as his/her name and date of birth must be identical to those indicated on the overseas voters’ list.

Those who have registered as overseas voters via e-mail must present the original copy of a document that verifies their nationality which also falls under the category of documents requested by overseas returning officers at each overseas mission. Any document without a photo must be presented along with another ID that has a photo on it.

The NEC has posted the information on the candidates that will assist overseas voters in making a choice on the notice board in each embassy and the websites of the NEC (http://www.nec.go.kr), the Overseas Voting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (http://www.mofat.go.kr) and each embassy. Overseas polling stations will be furnished with every kind of information guide on the candidates.

The NEC has kindly requested overseas voters to exert sovereign authority by casting their valuable votes in overseas voting for the Presidential Election to be held for the first time in the constitutional history.