A special prosecutor in South Korea has finished inspecting ballots from the June local elections, concluding that a significant number require further analysis, according to Yonhap News TV. The review ran for 13 hours, the broadcaster reported.
The verification covered 2.47 million ballot papers from Songpa district, according to International Shinmun. That outlet reported the process got off to a difficult start, with disruptions over identity checks and requests to film the proceedings.
The inspection concerned ballots cast in the June 3 local elections, which took place 147 days before the verification, Dong-A Ilbo reported. The Chosun Ilbo, citing the special prosecutor, said many of the papers need additional analysis.
YTN reported that the verification has now ended, and that the People Power Party is opposed to moving the ballot boxes. The reports did not specify what further analysis would involve or how many ballots were affected.
The scrutiny follows disputed claims about the election, which the verification process was set up to examine. The outlets did not detail the outcome for individual ballots.
What to watch next: whether the special prosecutor's office announces further analysis of the flagged ballots, and how the dispute over transferring the ballot boxes is resolved.
