Lawyers' Group Calls for Thorough Investigation into Election Ballot Shortage

The Lawyers for a Democratic Society has called for a thorough investigation and accountability regarding the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections. They also emphasized the need for state compensation for citizens who were unable to vote.

In a statement on June 18, the political reform task force of the group stated, "The ballot shortage incident severely infringed upon the citizens' voting rights, and its truth must be established without any doubt. The National Assembly's special committee for the national investigation must work diligently to uncover the facts beyond political interests. Furthermore, those responsible must face legal consequences in accordance with the investigation by the special committee and the joint investigation team of the police and prosecution."

The task force added, "In addition, the state compensation law should be applied to those voters who were unable to cast their ballots due to the shortage, and the government must guide citizens on the compensation process and accept claims for restitution."

Article 12, Section 2 of the state compensation law stipulates that the head of the agency to which the responsible public official belongs must encourage victims or their families to file for compensation.

The task force stressed, "The Election Commission is in urgent need of comprehensive reform. It is essential to amend the Election Commission Act and the Constitution to ensure that the commission fulfills its role effectively." They also called for discussions in the National Assembly, along with the participation of civil society, academia, and citizens, to create a public forum for dialogue. They noted that fundamentally reforming the Election Commission is a way to prevent conspiracy theories about election fraud from gaining traction.

The special committee, established through a bipartisan agreement, held its first meeting on the morning of June 18, where it adopted an investigation plan outlining the scope, methods, and targets of the inquiry. The committee's activities will last for 45 days, from June 18 to August 1, although it may extend the period for further investigations if deemed necessary.

The investigation will cover the following areas: the circumstances surrounding the ballot shortage, the criteria for determining the quantity of ballots printed, the adequacy of the guidelines for printing ballots, the Election Commission's management on election day, the timeline for recognizing the ballot shortage, the command and reporting systems in place, the impact on voters' rights due to delays and interruptions, police actions regarding gatherings and protests at polling stations, and the management of election personnel and budget operations.