South Korea’s Local Elections Ran Out Of Ballot Papers, Causing Massive Chaos And Claims Of Election Fraud

The head of South Korea’s election commission has resigned after a shortage of ballot papers caused massive chaos during the first elections after the impeachment of former conservative president Yoon Suk-yeol for declaring martial law and attempting a coup.

The local elections on Wednesday, June 3, when people vote for local officials such as governors, mayors and local council members, were seen as an important test of support for President Lee Jae-myung’s Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).

A clear victory would consolidate Lee's power, giving him the allies he needs to govern more effectively and strengthen his party for the 2028 parliamentary elections, according to AP.

It was also seen as a test of whether the conservative opposition, the People Power Party (PPP) — which still held 14 out of 16 mayorships across the country — could regroup after the fallout from Yoon's failed martial law attempt.

On election day, the turnout was higher than expected.

People then reported dozens of polling stations ran out of ballot papers, leaving voters to wait for hours or leaving without being able to vote, according to Reuters.

In Seoul alone, 14 polling stations ran out of ballots, mainly in Seoul’s Songpa-gu district, a conservative stronghold, according to the Korea Times.

The PPP called for a reelection and demanded that authorities halt vote counting, arguing that ballot shortages may have forced some voters to abandon voting altogether, according to the Korean Herald.

South Korea's National Election Commission (NEC) issued a public apology on the day of the election and acknowledged the issue, leading it to extend voting hours at some affected stations.

It also admitted it had printed ballots for only about 50% of eligible voters in Songpa-gu.

Despite the unrest, the PPP’s candidate Oh Se-hoo, who had distanced himself from Yoon after his failed coup attempt and demanded his party sever ties with Yoon was re-elected for a fifth term as mayor of Seoul.

Meanwhile, Lee’s DPK party won 12 out of the 16 mayoral and provincial races.

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