Local election turnout hits 61% as of 9 pm, exceeding 2022 mark

“The total turnout for Wednesday's local elections is tallied at 61 percent as of 9p.m., the National Election Commission said. According to the election watchdog, 26 million out of 44.6 million eligible voters had cast their ballots as of 9 p.m. Wednesday. The total turnout through 6 p.m. had not been finalized as of 9 p.m. due to a ballot shortage at polling stations in southern Seoul amid surging turnout. Early voting on Friday and Saturday drew more than 10 million voters for a 23.5 percent turnout — a record high for a local election, surpassing the 20.6 percent mark set in 2022. Wednesday's turnout was 10.1 percentage points higher than the 2022 local elections, which recorded 50.9 percent. Turnout in local elections has ranged between 50 and 60 percent over the past decade. In the 2022 local elections, early voting hit a record high, raising expectations for a strong final turnout. However, the overall figure fell short, coming in roughly 10 percentage points below the previous election and marking the second-lowest participation rate in local election history. The lowest turnout w

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