What would the proposed overseas electronic voting bill allow Koreans abroad to do?

The proposed revision would let overseas Koreans cast ballots in presidential and parliamentary elections without visiting designated polling stations. The system would be operated by the National Election Commission.

How does the overseas voting bill propose to address security and voter privacy concerns?

The bill includes measures to protect voter privacy and prevent unauthorized access to voting records. These safeguards address concerns raised about hacking and proxy voting.

Why did Jang Dong-hyeok question electronic voting?

Jang questioned the reliability of electronic voting while pointing to the unprecedented ballot shortage reported during the June 3 local elections. A special counsel team launched in early September is investigating suspected irregularities involving the National Election Commission, mainly to determine what led to the shortages.

DPK, liberal lawmakers propose bill allowing overseas Koreans to vote electronically

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Summary

Ruling and minor party lawmakers proposed a bill Friday to let overseas Koreans vote electronically in presidential and parliamentary elections. Led by Rep. Kim Young-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea, the proposal would allow voting without travel to designated polling stations. It calls for National Election Commission-operated voting and safeguards for voter privacy and voting records. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok questioned the system’s reliability amid an investigation into ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections.

Key Facts

The bill would revise the Public Official Election Act.
Rep. Kim Joon-hyung of the Rebuilding Korea Party joined 11 other Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers as a co-sponsor.
The proposed safeguards are intended to protect voter privacy and prevent unauthorized access to voting records, amid concerns about hacking and proxy voting.
Jang cited the unprecedented ballot shortage reported during the June 3 local elections in questioning electronic voting.
A special counsel team launched in early September is investigating suspected irregularities involving the National Election Commission, focusing mainly on what led to the ballot shortages.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 10, 2026 5:03 pm KST

Rep. Kim Young-ho of the ruling Democratic Party speaks at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sept. 14. Yonhap

A bill allowing Koreans living overseas to vote electronically has been proposed by ruling and minor party lawmakers, parliamentary records showed Tuesday, in a move aimed at improving voting accessibility.

The proposed revision to the Public Official Election Act would allow voters to cast their ballots in presidential and parliamentary elections without having to visit designated polling stations, according to the National Assembly's online bill information system.

The bill, led by Rep. Kim Young-ho of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), was proposed Friday, co-sponsored by 11 other DPK lawmakers and Rep. Kim Joon-hyung of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party.

By introducing an electronic voting system operated by the National Election Commission (NEC), the bill seeks to address challenges faced by Koreans living far from overseas polling stations.

The bill also includes measures to protect voter privacy and prevent unauthorized access to voting records amid concerns over hacking and proxy voting.

Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, has raised questions over the reliability of electronic voting, pointing out the unprecedented shortage of ballots reported during the June 3 local elections.

"How can they propose electronic voting when we cannot even trust votes cast at polling stations? Is it in the DPK's genes to go against the public opinion?" Jang wrote in a Facebook post.

A special counsel team, launched in early September, has been investigating various suspected irregularities involving the NEC to look mainly into what led to the ballot shortages.

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