A small meeting room at the Jeongwang 3-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Siheung City, Gyeonggi Province, one of the early voting stations. On May 19th, five printers were observed to be set up, a situation captured by a citizen and reported to our newspaper on the 29th with photos and videos. [Photo=Informant]

This election, as usual, has seen signs of attempted election fraud by the National Election Commission.

On the 28th, the day before the early voting, between 2 PM and 3:20 PM, a simulation of the early voting operation was conducted on the 4th floor of the Beomeo 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Suseong-gu, Daegu.

Seals Removed a Month Ago… Observers Unable to Witness Seal Application

On this day, observer A pointed to the early voting ballot issuance machines (laptops and printers) with their seals removed and asked, "Where are the removed seals?"

According to procedure, the issuance machines should have seals attached. This means that the seals should be removed in the presence of observers, the machines tested, and then resealed and stored. This is to prevent unauthorized devices from being attached to the machines.

In response to his question, the early voting management officer surprisingly replied, "The National Election Commission took them."

The voting management officer stated, "Around April 28th, National Election Commission staff arrived at the 4th floor of the Beomeo 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center (early voting station)," and added, "On that day, a preliminary mock test was conducted using only one laptop and one printer for each early voting ballot issuance machine." At this time, the National Election Commission removed and took the seals.

Furthermore, a second mock test was conducted on May 19th (as stated by early voting management officer P and acting voting management officer K). Informant A recorded their statements.

Meanwhile, when A attempted to photograph a mock ballot, a voting management officer prevented him. When he protested, two National Election Commission staff members from Suseong-gu arrived, followed by the head of the Self-Governance Administration Team, Administrative Support Division of Suseong-gu Office.

After A asked the National Election Commission staff, "It is correct that the early voting ballot issuance machines should be set up for a mock test in the presence of observers the day before early voting, on May 28th, right?" and then asked, "When were these installed here?" a National Election Commission official vaguely replied, "Recently."

Then, the early voting management officer revealed, "There was a directive from the National Election Commission on April 28th to transport (deliver) the early voting ballot issuance machines (laptops and printers) to all early voting stations nationwide."

This means that the first mock test was conducted on April 28th with one machine, followed by a second mock test on May 19th with the remaining machines. This would amount to a total of three mock tests, including the one on the 28th, the day before the election.

In a press release on the 28th, the National Election Commission stated, "On May 28th, the day before early voting, a final mock test, including the early voting communication network, was conducted at 3,571 early voting stations nationwide."

The purpose of this mock test is to check the proper installation and normal operation of early voting equipment, as well as the integrity of the communication network. The statement also said, "After the mock test, the printed output part of the ballot issuance machine and the roster terminal will be sealed with special seals and managed meticulously, in preparation for early voting."

However, concerns are rising due to the inconsistent dates of mock tests nationwide and the fact that the National Election Commission is not properly managing even the seals.

Early Voting Locations: Why are Welfare Programs Suspended for Two Weeks?

Additionally, A mentioned that a notice was posted at the entrance of the Administrative Welfare Center stating that the operation of hobby activity spaces, including the auditorium, would be suspended for two weeks starting May 18th. He added that he believes similar notices would be posted at the entrances of early voting stations in Administrative Welfare Centers nationwide during the same period.

"Why is the early voting venue closed for two weeks?" [Photo=Informant]He stated that he had personally confirmed this in several areas. When asked why the venue was closed for two weeks, a center operator replied, "We are not operating due to the election."

In the case of Beomeo 2-dong, there is a fireproof door on the 4th floor, and behind it is a 'storage room' where the early voting ballot issuance machines are kept collectively.

According to his account, after testing one laptop and one printer on April 28th, the three machines were stored in the warehouse for the entire month. They were then retrieved and similarly tested again on May 19th. When A asked why this was done, the response was, "The National Election Commission does it uniformly."

He expressed great shock at the news that the National Election Commission was not retrieving the ballot issuance machines, which require special handling, but was simply storing them in a warehouse.

National Election Commission Fails to Send Observers Notification for Mock Tests

Informant A stated, "I understand that for the early voting mock test simulation scheduled for May 28th from 2 PM to 4 PM, a text message should be sent to early voting observers, providing the location and time of the early voting station so they can observe if they wish." He added, "In previous years, I did not receive notification texts for mock tests, so I had to go to the National Election Commission in the morning to protest and find out the location and time myself to observe."

He further criticized, "I suspect that the National Election Commission is intentionally hindering early voting observers from attending the early voting mock tests." He pointed out, "Because it is so difficult to observe, very few early voting observers actually attend the mock tests. In some years, I was the only one. What would have happened if I hadn't gone? It was only after I protested that they started sending texts to observers."

Meanwhile, at the Jeongwang 3-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Siheung City, Gyeonggi Province, one of the early voting stations, five printers were observed to be set up on May 19th. Photos and videos of this situation were captured by a citizen and sent to our newspaper on the 29th.

By Lim Yo-hee