Change the method of absentee voting starting from the upcoming By-election

= Be able to cast a vote before the Election Day since this By-election on April 24 =

= However, as usual, the disable voters shall apply for absentee voting to have residence voting by post mail in the existing way=

❏ The National Election Commission (NEC) gives journals a demonstration on the integrated electoral register* that will be used for the first in the upcoming By-election at the main building of the National Assembly on March 26th at 2pm.

* The integrated electoral register is the voters list that is integrated into one electoral register by computerizing the paper voters list which was prepared by each Gu/City/Gun (Municipal District) before.

○ The NEC said that this demonstration aims to let the public understand the integrated electoral register that is first adopted in election history as well as know newly changed absentee voting system.

○ This demonstration would be an opportunity to explain the purpose, expected effects and how to construct a system of the integrated electoral register. Also it would make the participants experience the whole process of the absentee voting using the integrated electoral register.

❏ In addition, the NEC said the voters don''t have to apply for the absentee voting because of using the integrated electoral register from By-election on April 24.

○ Previously, the voters who cannot vote on the Election Day due to personal affairs could have a vote at the polling station for absentee voters after absentee report and received the ballot paper via postal mail.

○ However, since this by-election, the voters don''t have to apply for the absentee voting. The voters are able to cast a vote at near absentee polling stations from Friday to Saturday, five days prior to the election.

○ What''s more, in the past, one polling station for absentee vote was placed at each Gu/City/Gun (Municipal District). Now, it will be situated at each Eup/Myeon/Dong (Town level) in which the election will be held.

○ The procedure of absentee voting will be as follows: the ballot paper will be printed out from the ballot dispenser** after identifying the voter via the integrated electoral register and be given to the voter with a mailing envelope. The voters will mark the ballot by using the marking device equipped in the polling booth: The vote will be finalized after sealing the ballot in the mailing envelope and putting it into the ballot box.

** The ballot dispenser is the machine that prints out an address label for mailing envelopes as well as ballot paper. It is operated under the responsibility of (Absentee) polling station managers while observers from parties/candidates monitor the whole process of managing the voting. This system was already used at the overseas voting for the 19th National Assembly election and the 18th Presidential Election in 2012 and verified its correctness and stability.

❏ The period of running absentee polling stations for the upcoming By-election is from April 19th(Friday) to 20th(Saturday). In addition, the polling hours will be from 6am to 4pm.

○ To have a vote, the voters should bring his/her identification card, passport, certificate of men of national merit, student ID having his/her photo or certificates issued by public offices or institutions.

❏ Those who have a difficulty in moving due to severe physical disability or soldiers working outside of the constituency are able to vote by post mail via the received ballot paper if he/she applies for the absentee voting like the before.

○ Moreover, the voters living out of the jurisdiction of Gu/City/Gun (Municipal District) are also able to choose the residence voting if he/she applies for absentee voting.

○ The absentee voting application period for the vote by mail will be five days from April 5th to 9th: the voters can submit the application form via postal mail (free) or in person to the head of Gu/City/Gun or Eup/Myeon/Dong (Town level) that controls his/her resident registration till 6pm on April 9.

○ The form is displayed at the office of Gu/City/Gun or Eup/Myeon/Dong across the nation. It also can be downloaded from the NEC homepage or the homepage of the Ministry of Security and Public Administration or the office of Gu/City/Gun.

❏ For the election in line with termination of the term, the voters can cast their votes any polling station for absentee voting.

○ The NEC of Korea explained that ''Vote before the Election day'' is somewhat similar to ''Early voting'' conducted in the U.S, Japan, etc. but Korean system lets its citizens vote anywhere the absentee polling station is installed across the nation. So, it is fair to say that it is the system conducted for the first around the world.

○ It also said that the adoption of the integrated electoral register will be a significant milestone that improves convenience of voting in Korean election history.

《Election Timetable》

▣ Base date of the voters list: April 5 (Fri.)

▣ Periods of candidate registration: April 4 (Thu.)~ April 5(Fri.)

▣ Periods of absentee voting application for the mail-in vote

: April 5(Fri.)~April 9(Tue.)

▣ Date of starting the election campaign : April 11 (Thu.)

▣ Periods of absentee voting (Vote prior to the election)

: April 19(Fri.)~April 20(Sat.)

▣ Date of By-election : April 24 (Wed.)