Most Popular
-
1
Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
-
2
Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
-
3
Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
-
4
Seoul to more than double military drones by 2026 to counter NK threats
-
5
Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
-
6
Seoul alerts overseas missions to NK terror threats
-
7
Over 60% of S. Koreans support W100m childbirth incentive: survey
-
8
Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
-
9
‘Inside Out 2’ adds four new emotions, explores teenage life
-
10
Questions raised over fair promotion of RM, NewJeans
The National Election Commission spent nearly 30 billion won on allowing Koreans overseas to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections. But the dismal turnout raised the cost per ballot to an exorbitant level.
During the March 28-April 3 period, 56,000 Koreans living overseas cast ballots at 158 Korean diplomatic and consular missions in 107 countries. They accounted for 45.7 percent of the overseas Korean residents that had registered for the vote, the electoral watchdog says. But the actual voting rate was below 2.5 percent, given that the number of eligible voters was 2,233,193.
The electoral commission spent 29.3 billion won on the voting, which included 8 billion won spent on publicity last year. The cost per ballot amounted to 520,000 won, or more than 60 times the cost per ballot for the 2008 parliamentary elections.
Was it worth spending as much? Many would probably say it was not. But that was the price paid to uphold a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
In June 2006, the court ruled that it went against the Constitution not to provide eligible Koreans residing abroad with an opportunity to vote for general elections held in the nation. As such, the law on election to public office was revised in accordance with the ruling in February 2009.
Depriving eligible Koreans residing overseas of voting opportunities is out of the question unless the court ruling is overturned. Moreover, unhindered participation in voting is one of Korea’s basic rights.
What needs to be done under these circumstances is raise the cost effectiveness by reducing expenditure and increasing turnout.
One question in this regard is whether or not it is necessary for the commission to dispatch 55 election managers, each with their dependents, to foreign countries. The commission is called on to study the possibility of delegating election management to diplomatic and consular missions.
Another problem is how to increase the turnout. One complaint voiced by overseas residents is that, if they want to vote, they have to visit the designated diplomatic and consular missions twice ― first for registration and then to actually post their ballot. The commission will do well to consider allowing eligible Koreans holding valid passports to register and vote at the same time.
The commission is called on to make all the improvements possible before the presidential election is held in December. If necessary, relevant laws will have to be revised.
During the March 28-April 3 period, 56,000 Koreans living overseas cast ballots at 158 Korean diplomatic and consular missions in 107 countries. They accounted for 45.7 percent of the overseas Korean residents that had registered for the vote, the electoral watchdog says. But the actual voting rate was below 2.5 percent, given that the number of eligible voters was 2,233,193.
The electoral commission spent 29.3 billion won on the voting, which included 8 billion won spent on publicity last year. The cost per ballot amounted to 520,000 won, or more than 60 times the cost per ballot for the 2008 parliamentary elections.
Was it worth spending as much? Many would probably say it was not. But that was the price paid to uphold a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
In June 2006, the court ruled that it went against the Constitution not to provide eligible Koreans residing abroad with an opportunity to vote for general elections held in the nation. As such, the law on election to public office was revised in accordance with the ruling in February 2009.
Depriving eligible Koreans residing overseas of voting opportunities is out of the question unless the court ruling is overturned. Moreover, unhindered participation in voting is one of Korea’s basic rights.
What needs to be done under these circumstances is raise the cost effectiveness by reducing expenditure and increasing turnout.
One question in this regard is whether or not it is necessary for the commission to dispatch 55 election managers, each with their dependents, to foreign countries. The commission is called on to study the possibility of delegating election management to diplomatic and consular missions.
Another problem is how to increase the turnout. One complaint voiced by overseas residents is that, if they want to vote, they have to visit the designated diplomatic and consular missions twice ― first for registration and then to actually post their ballot. The commission will do well to consider allowing eligible Koreans holding valid passports to register and vote at the same time.
The commission is called on to make all the improvements possible before the presidential election is held in December. If necessary, relevant laws will have to be revised.
-
Articles by Korea Herald
