After voting for the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections, held on the 3rd, concluded, staff sort ballots at a counting center in Gwanak District, Seoul. Senior Reporter Seo Seong-il

The National Election Commission stated on the 3rd that it would issue a public apology regarding the ballot paper shortage during the 6·3 local elections.

The National Election Commission issued a notice stating, “At 9 p.m. today at Government Complex Gwacheon, the Secretary General of the National Election Commission will issue a public apology and hold an on-site briefing regarding the ballot paper shortage.”

As of 7:33 p.m. that day, the National Election Commission said that voting had been completed at 7 of the 17 polling stations experiencing ballot paper shortages. Voting had finished at seven polling stations in the Seoul districts of Gangnam, Dongjak, Seocho, and Gwangjin, and in Dongtan District of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

At the same time, the National Election Commission said that voting was underway at eight polling stations in Songpa District, Seoul, and at two polling stations in Incheon.

The National Election Commission confirmed that during the 6·3 local elections voting process that afternoon, ballot paper shortages at 17 polling stations, including in Songpa District, Seoul, caused disruptions to voting. The National Election Commission stated, “Voters waiting in line will be able to vote normally even if the official closing time has passed,” and added, “We hope there is no misunderstanding that voting today is impossible due to a shortage of papers.”