The Korea Times
The ballot paper shortage that disrupted voting at multiple polling stations across Seoul during the June 3 local elections represents far more than a simple administrative mishap. It constitutes a serious failure of election management that undermined citizens' constitutional right to vote and dealt another blow to public confidence in the institutions responsible for safeguarding democracy. According to election authorities, 14 polling stations across Songpa, Gangnam and Gwangjin districts ran out of ballot papers during voting hours. Voters who had arrived in good faith to exercise their democratic rights were forced to wait for additional ballots to be printed and delivered. In some locations, voting continued until late at night, long after official polling hours had ended. Others reportedly abandoned the process altogether after hours of uncertainty and delay. Such a scenario should have been unthinkable in a mature democracy. Preparing an adequate number of ballot papers is one of the most basic responsibilities of any election authority. Elections are conducted not on the assum
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