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| Rescue authority officers check on safety facilities at a polling station in Gwangju, Monday. Yonhap |
By Do Je-hae
The National Election Commission (NEC) said Tuesday that people who have been either hospitalized or quarantined after being confirmed to have the new coronavirus will be allowed to vote in the upcoming general election from their residence or place of treatment.
Under Article 38 of the Public Election Law, people with limited mobility due to disabilities or those who reside in hospitals, nursing homes and detention centers can vote from their place of residence rather than visiting polling stations. The NEC determined that this law is applicable to voters with COVID-19, according to its statement.
"Those who are eligible to vote from their place of residence will have to apply between March 24 and 28 by mail," the NEC said in the statement.
While the NEC and the government say they are not considering postponing the general election, set for April 15, the quick spread of the virus has led to some calls from the opposition to hold it on a later date.
The minor opposition Party for People's Livelihood (PPL) has demanded that President Moon Jae-in delay the vote, claiming people are too preoccupied with the virus to pay attention to the election.
"We are facing a national crisis due to COVID-19," said Ko Sang-jin, a candidate running under the party's ticket in a district in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. "The people's livelihoods are in disarray. Under these circumstances, campaigning will be frowned upon. President Moon must recognize that the election must be delayed due to the reality where voting cannot proceed as planned."
While candidates find it difficult to campaign as people avoid crowded places, some politicians have been directly hit by the novel coronavirus.
According to health authorities in Daegu, a key campaign official for Yang Geum-hee, who is running in a district there for the main opposition United Future Party (UFP), died on Monday after being confirmed to have contracted the virus. The quarantine authorities have closed Yang's campaign office.
Yun Kun-young, running for a district in Guro-gu, western Seoul, on the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's ticket, has also had to put his campaign on hold after numerous people at the building where his office is located were confirmed to have COVID-19.
The former director of national planning at Cheong Wa Dae is one of Moon's closest aides. In a text message, he said he was tested for the virus on Monday and people who worked in his camp were tested on Tuesday.
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