"I'll let the confirmed people put their votes directly into the ballot box," but...

<Anchor>

Let's take a look at the election news.

As accusations of poorly managing early voting grew, the National Election Commission held an emergency meeting today (7th).

On the day of the election the day after tomorrow, he said that he would make sure that those who were diagnosed with Corona and those who were quarantined directly put their votes into the ballot box.

First of all, this is reporter Hwa Kang-yoon.

<Reporter> The

National Election Commission held an emergency plenary meeting as the criticism of the constitutional violation of the principle of direct and secret elections led to a petition to the Blue House.

[Roh Jeong-hee/Chairman of the National Election Commission: (There is a lot of public distrust, what do you think?) I will tell you after the meeting.]

As a result of the two-hour meeting, the day after tomorrow, the main voting will not operate a temporary voting booth for confirmed patients and quarantined persons who have become a problem in advance voting. I decided not to.

Instead, after all general voters vote at 6 pm, voting for confirmed cases and quarantined people was held at the same place, so that the ballots they had voted for were put directly into the same ballot box.

[Kim Jae-won / Director of Election Bureau of the National Election Commission: (The afternoon of the next day) From 6:00 to 7:30, it is only for electors such as confirmed cases.

Therefore, general electors must arrive at the polling place before 6 o'clock.]

This is to block the controversy about proxy voting or ballot disclosure caused by our own regulations that have election clerks walk the ballot paper instead.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) also recommended that confirmed cases and quarantined people move past 5:50 pm at the earliest, saying that they will minimize the overlap of movement lines with general voters.

The National Election Commission predicted that the day after day, there will be less congestion as there are four times more polling places than early voting.

The National Election Commission also announced that although ballot papers cast in three places, Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul, Suseong-gu in Daegu, and Yeonje-gu in Busan, were released, it was a simple mistake in the process of moving the votes, so they will all be treated as valid votes.

Nevertheless, public opinion to hold the Election Commission accountable is growing stronger.

Civil society groups have accused Roh Jeong-hee, chairman of the National Election Commission, on charges of abuse of power and neglect of duties, and political parties from the opposition parties also voiced their voices on the need to reprimand those involved in the National Election Commission.

(Video coverage: Kim Nam-seong, Video editing: Kim Jin-won)

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<Anchor>

Let's talk more about this with reporter Hwa Gang-yoon who just reported.

[Reporter Hwa Gang-yun: The National Election Commission plans to start voting for confirmed voters after all general voters have finished voting.

To this end, we plan to provide a waiting area where confirmed voters who arrive first can wait.

However, even the National Election Commission is complaining that it is difficult to secure a waiting space at all polling places.

He also said that it depends on the conditions of the polling place and that some building owners are concerned about infection.

It seems difficult to completely rule out the possibility that general voters and confirmed voters will be entangled.]

[Reporter Hwa Gang-yun: Considering that general voters who arrive by 6 o'clock vote for a long time, and that quarantine measures must be taken after that, there is talk of whether there is not enough time to vote for confirmed cases by 7:30 as you said.

The National Election Commission decided to issue a numbered ticket if you arrive only before 7:30 p.m., the deadline for voting.

With this numbered ticket, you can wait and vote even if the time is delayed.

However, the National Election Commission and the quarantine authorities do not share information on confirmed cases and quarantined persons.

So, the National Election Commission also said that it is difficult to predict now how many confirmed cases and quarantined people will be on the main voting day the day after tomorrow.]

[Reporter Hwa Gang-yun: Noh Jeong-hee, chairman of the Election Commission, has been silent all day now and has not spoken.

There is a public discourse to encourage participation in voting tomorrow.

It seems that he will also reveal his position on the poor management of advance voting here.

Also, we will have to wait and see if the matter of responsibility and whereabouts will be revealed here.]

(Video coverage: Kim Nam-seong, Video editing: Park Sun-sun)