Early voting has officially started for the 21st National Assembly elections in South Korea.

Already strong turnout despite coronavirus, a lot higher than 4 years ago.

Elections on April 15th, but people can vote early today & tomorrow from anywhere they like in the country.
In Seoul, Jongno District is recording the highest early voting turnout already. Race is essentially between Lee Nak-yeon and Hwang Kyo-ahn, polls suggest victory for former prime minister Lee.

Lee winning Jongno could pave the way for the next big race: the presidential race.
How are elections taking place in South Korea despite coronavirus? Unprecedented measures including:

- voters must wear masks and gloves
- temperature taken
- keep distance among voters
- facilities disinfected before and throughout https://twitter.com/koryodynasty/status/1240894929900933122?s=20">https://twitter.com/koryodyna...
"Wearing a face mask against the coronavirus, President Moon Jae-in cast his ballot Friday, as South Korea began a two-day early voting for the April 15 parliamentary elections that are seen as a referendum on him". http://yna.kr/AEN20200410002100315">https://yna.kr/AEN202004...
Moon casts early vote for next week's general elections | Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, April 10 (Yonhap) -- Wearing a face mask against the coronavirus, President Moon Ja...

http://yna.kr/AEN20200410002100315
In order to vote, people are getting their temperatures checked at the entrance of polling stations. Their hands are being disinfected and are being given gloves.

There are also markings on the floor indicating social distancing rules.

#Korea #국회의원선거 https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">
In order to vote, people are getting their temperatures checked at the entrance of polling stations. Their hands are being disinfected and are being given gloves. There are also markings on the floor indicating social distancing rules. #Korea #국회의원선거 https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable=" title="In order to vote, people are getting their temperatures checked at the entrance of polling stations. Their hands are being disinfected and are being given gloves. There are also markings on the floor indicating social distancing rules. #Korea #국회의원선거 https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">">
In order to vote, people are getting their temperatures checked at the entrance of polling stations. Their hands are being disinfected and are being given gloves. There are also markings on the floor indicating social distancing rules. #Korea #국회의원선거 https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable=" title="In order to vote, people are getting their temperatures checked at the entrance of polling stations. Their hands are being disinfected and are being given gloves. There are also markings on the floor indicating social distancing rules. #Korea #국회의원선거 https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">">
In order to vote, people are getting their temperatures checked at the entrance of polling stations. Their hands are being disinfected and are being given gloves. There are also markings on the floor indicating social distancing rules. #Korea #국회의원선거 https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable=" title="In order to vote, people are getting their temperatures checked at the entrance of polling stations. Their hands are being disinfected and are being given gloves. There are also markings on the floor indicating social distancing rules. #Korea #국회의원선거 https://abs.twimg.com/hashflags... draggable="false" alt="">">
Wow early voting polls here in South Korea opened at 6am. As of 10am now, we& #39;re at 2.5% turnout, over double the 1.2% from 4 years ago.
Here& #39;s how voting is done in South Korea, despite coronavirus.
And here& #39;s how voting is done even if you have respiratory symptoms:
Ok it& #39;s now 11am and voter turnout is at 3.7% compared to 1.7% four years ago.

Safe to say that voter turnout will not be an issue despite coronavirus.

Reminder that today and tomorrow is early voting. National Assembly elections actually take place on April 15th.
LOL S. Korea& #39;s National Election Commission playing with words in an example of how ballot boxes are sealed:

Polling Station Manager: Kim Gwan-ri (Manager Kim)
Observers: Baek Doo-san (Paektu Mountain), Han Ra-san (Halla Mountain)
BREAKING: S. Korean government has just announced that people who are self-isolating will be allowed to vote on April 15 in the National Assembly elections. https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200410075100017">https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2...
[속보] 정부 "자가격리자, 4월 15일 총선일 투표 참여할 수 있다" | 연합뉴스

https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200410075100017
It remains to be seen how people who must self-isolate will vote on April 15th. Until now, the only option was to register in advance for home voting or vote at a designated care centre.

It now seems they will be allowed to leave their houses temporarily. https://mobile.twitter.com/koryodynasty/status/1240894935613632517">https://mobile.twitter.com/koryodyna...
South Korean government is preparing a plan to allow people that should be self-isolating to vote in the elections on April 15th, looking into giving them a separate route and time to vote. https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200410075700017?section=news">https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2...
[속보] 정부 "자가격리자 투표시 동선·시간대 분리 방안 마련중" | 연합뉴스

[속보] 정부 "자가격리자 투표시 동선·시간대 분리 방안 마련중", 신재우기자, 사회뉴스 (송고시간 2020-04-10 11:27)

https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200410075700017?section=news
Seoul& #39;s Gangnam District seems to have put the news out there before the central government via an emergency alert. It tells people in self-isolation NOT to vote early today/tomorrow but that they will be allowed after 6pm on April 15.
Wow South Korea is not joking when it comes to elections despite coronavirus. It& #39;s 12 noon and we& #39;re now at 4.9% turnout versus 2.2% in the previous National Assembly elections 4 years ago.
More about how people who are self-isolating will vote on April 15th to be announced on 12th.

Vice Health Minister Kim Kang-lip "We are continuing talks with agencies & ministries on how to allow people to participate, and guarantee their voting rights". https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200410081900017?input=tw">https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR2...
자가격리자도 15일 투표한다…정부 "동선·시간대 분리" | 연합뉴스

자가격리자도 15일 투표한다…정부 "동선·시간대 분리", 김연숙기자, 사회뉴스 (송고시간 2020-04-10 11:51)

https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200410081900017?input=tw
Ok voter turnout at 1pm today is already at 6%. It was 2.7% four years ago.

FYI 5.5% of people voted in TOTAL on Day 1 of early voting for the National Assembly elections 4 years ago. We& #39;ve already passed that in half a day.
South Koreans seem unfazed by coronavirus re: elections. Potential reasons:

- lowest number of cases in ages (27 yesterday)
- strict hygiene/safety measures at polling stations
- incentivised by government& #39;s response vs rest of world
- glorious weather https://twitter.com/koryodynasty/status/1248433232653111298">https://twitter.com/koryodyna...
For comparison, during the 2017 presidential elections, turnout at 1pm was 5.80%.

For early voting for these National Assembly elections, we& #39;re already at 6%.

Could just mean that people are spreading votes across the day to avoid physical contact. Either way turnout is high.
We& #39;re seeing a constant over double turnout compared to 4 years ago on Day 1 of early voting for National Assembly elections here in South Korea.

Now at 7.2% at 2pm compared to 3.3% last time.
OK we& #39;ve now passed 10% turnout by 5pm today on Day 1 of early voting for National Assembly elections.

10.9% vs. 5% in previous elections.
Polls for 1st day of early voting in S. Korea& #39;s National Assembly elections have closed.

Turnout of 12.1%, compared to 5.5% 4 years ago.

People said COVID-19 would deter people. Clearly not. If anything, it& #39;s made people more determined to vote.

Early voting resumes tomorrow.
Huge turnout in the liberal stronghold of South Jeolla Province at 18.2% (highest in country) versus conservative stronghold Daegu at 10.2% (lowest).

Still early days, but conservatives could be in trouble.
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