NEC to Submit Draft Revision Regarding Laws on Referenda 

= Plans to introduce overseas, shipboard and early voting to referenda and expand the freedom to campaign  =

The National Election Commission (NEC) of the Republic of Korea will submit draft revisions on the National Referendum Act to the National Assembly on October 17 to effectively guarantee the people''s right to vote, expand the freedom of campaigning and strengthen the fairness of voting

The current National Referendum Act, revised in 1989, does not reflect improvements in related laws such as the Public Official Election Act and the Resident Voting Act, and restricts campaign freedoms and fully free speech during referenda. There is also no regulation guaranteeing voting rights, which has been continuing unconstitutionality.

In order to resolve these problems, the NEC has prepared draft revisions and confirmed them through in-depth discussions during a full meeting of the Commission.

Firstly, in order to secure people’s voting rights and to increase voter participation, the NEC has proposed introducing overseas, shipboard, and early voting systems that are used in public official elections.

In addition, the draft includes allowing campaigning by telephone, wearing items such as sashes, through the internet, by e-mail and by text message at all times. The freedom to campaign will also been expanded for parties and political campaigns Q&A sessions and debates and by expanding advertisements on TV, in newspapers and on the internet.  

In order to guarantee citizens’ rights to information about the revision, the Election Broadcasting Debate Commission (NEBDC) will hold debates and will create new communication methods to increase the effectiveness of information provision to the public.