21st general election overview and how to cast ballots on April 15
By Jung Da-min
The general election to form the 21st National Assembly will take place on April 15 under several new conditions, such as the introduction of a new electoral system and under special measures to prevent spread of COVID-19.
Voters will be casting two ballots, one for the candidates of the 253 single-member districts and the other for the parties competing over the remaining 47 proportional representation seats. The competition rate is 4.4:1 for the constituency vote and 6.6:1 for the proportional representation vote.
(Graph by Lee Soo-jin)
One of the striking features of the ballot paper is that it is the longest Korea has ever seen ― about 48.1 centimeters in length ― for the proportional representation vote. A total of 35 parties, 14 more than in the 20th general election in 2016, are participating in it. Due to the new ballot papers being too long to fit the electronic counting machines, election staff will have to count votes by hand.
Such an increase in the number of participating parties resulted from a new electoral system which gives an advantage to minor parties wishing to win proportional representation seats.
Despite the good intentions behind the new system, things have become especially complicated after the country's two major parties ― the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) ― created their own “satellite parties” in a bid to win more proportional representation seats.
The DPK's paper party, Civil Together, created by pro-Moon Jae-in civic groups and several minor liberal parties, has not gained the expected level of support, because part of the support for the liberal bloc has been given to the Open Minjoo Party, set up by activists and politicians who failed to be selected as candidates by the DPK. Amid the divided support for the liberal bloc, the UFP's satellite Future Korea Party has taken the lead in several surveys released early this month.
The voter turnout could be another variable. According to an April 8 survey, 83.7 percent of eligible voters said they would cast their ballots, but the actual turnout could be lower as people shun crowded places over COVID-19 fears. The voter turnout for the 2016 general election was 58 percent.
The National Election Commission will carry out special measures at polling stations on the day of the election, to help voters cast ballots while minimizing the risk of possible virus infections, such as by checking temperatures, providing disposable plastic gloves, and operating a separate booth for those with high temperatures or respiratory symptoms.