Casting ballots in unusual places
A total of 14,465 polling stations were installed for over 44 million eligible voters to cast their ballots in the June 1 local elections. Many of them were located in schools, government offices and community centers which are easily accessible and well-known to local residents. But some polling stations were set up in unlikely places.
These venues included an optical store, car showroom, barbecue restaurant, coffee shop and taekwondo gym. These private business establishments had consented to lend their space to the National Election Commission (NEC) for the day.
According to an NEC official, the commission’s standards for selecting a polling venue include its accessibility for the disabled and proximity to public transportation. These locations are also supposed to be known to the residents, so that they don’t have trouble finding them when they go to vote. That’s why many polling stations are installed on the first floor of schools and community service centers, or in buildings with an elevator.
However, the commission’s task to find and secure suitable venues for polling stations has always been a challenge.
“A polling station has to be installed somewhere people are already familiar with and have easy access to. But it’s easier said than done,” the
NEC official told The Korea Times, Wednesday. For some geographical or other reasons, some neighborhoods, in both urban and suburban areas, are more difficult to secure a polling place.
The official added that the COVID-19 pandemic has made the already-tricky job even more challenging. The rapid increase in the number of patients discouraged many property owners from allowing public access to their facilities for the elections.
So the venues that have been selected are turned into polling stations, suspending regular operations until the next day.
The government provides a certain amount of compensation in proportion to the size of the venue.