State auditor gathering data to conduct financial audit of NEC over ballot shortage

Board of Audit and Inspection Chair Kim Ho-cheol / Yonhap

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has begun collecting data in preparation for a financial audit next month of the National Election Commission (NEC) in the wake of ballot shortages in the recent local elections, the chief auditor said Wednesday.

BAI Chair Kim Ho-cheol made the remark during a meeting with reporters as criticism of the election watchdog has been mounting over the unprecedented shortage of ballot papers during the June 3 elections that led to the temporary suspension of voting at 26 polling stations.

"People are greatly interested and concerned over the unacceptable violation of voting rights. After a decision by the Council of Commissioners yesterday, we started gathering data today," Kim said. "I anticipate we can conduct an actual audit around July after determining the scope and period of the audit."

The election watchdog is an independent constitutional organization that is not subject to a full-fledged performance audit, a measure aimed at shielding the agency from political influence. But an accounting audit is deemed permissible because it carries no political implications.

"Although we are unable to conduct a performance inspection of the NEC, it is our responsibility under the Constitution to conduct an accounting audit of a constitutional organization," Kim said.

Calls have mounted for a thorough reform of the NEC and even its dismantlement, while a parliamentary investigation and a joint probe by the prosecution and police are also under way to determine what led to the ballot shortages and who is responsible.

President Lee Jae Myung has also said amending the Constitution can be considered to increase oversight.

The election watchdog has apologized, saying it failed to print enough ballot papers due to an incorrect prediction of voter turnout. However, it has maintained that the ballot shortages neither warrant a rerun nor altered the election results.