7·30 재·보궐선거일인 30일 오후 5시 현재 국회의원 선거구 15곳의 투표율이 27.3%로 집계됐다.
중앙선거관리위원회(이하 선관위)에 따르면 선거인수 총 288만 455명 가운데 78만 7232명이 투표를 마쳤다.
선거구별로 보면 전남 순천·곡성이 43.2%로 가장 높은 투표율을 기록했고 서울 동작을이 39.5%로 뒤를 이었다. 반면 광주 광산을은 17.3%로 투표율이 가장 낮았다.
이날 투표는 오후 8시까지 진행되며 투표장에 갈 때는 신분증을 지참하고 자신이 거주하는 지역의 투표소에서 투표해야 한다
선관위는 "이르면 오후 10시쯤 당락의 윤곽이 드러나기 시작하고, 접전 지역도 오후 11쯤에는 당선인이 가려질 것으로 보인다"고 밝혔다.
재보궐선거 투표율 소식을 접한 네티즌들은 "재보궐선거 투표율, 지난 번과 비슷한가?" "재보궐선거 투표율, 누가 당선될까?" "재보궐선거 투표율, 퇴근하고 투표해야지" 등의 반응을 보였다.
Voters take to polling stations for by-elections
Voters took to polling stations on Wednesday in the largest-ever parliamentary by-elections, critical for political parties to gain the upper hand for the rest of the 19th National Assembly.
The by-elections, which will see 15 new National Assembly members, are also seen as a mid-term referendum on the Park Geun-hye administration that hit a long string of obstacles from early on.
The government has been blamed for mishandling the April 16 sinking of the ferry Sewol, which resulted in the deaths of more than 300 people.
The discovery of the body of the ferry’s owner Yoo Byung-eun has also added to the public’s distrust of the government.
On July 25, the police announced that a body found on June 12 was that of Yoo, and admitted to shortcomings in its actions regarding the body. Yoo had been “on the run” since early May and the government had operated a massive manhunt for more than two months.
President Park Geun-hye’s approval ratings have also suffered significantly brought down by the string of unsuccessful nominations for high level government posts.
Due to the large number of seats being contested, and due to the implications the results will have for the two main political parties and the government, Wednesday’s by-elections have been dubbed the “miniature general elections.”
With much riding on the results, the ruling Saenuri Party tried to garner support by putting economic issues at the top of its agenda.
Throughout the 13-day campaign period ending Tuesday, Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung and others have emphasized the economy, arguing that the government’s plans can only be successful if their party gains a “stable majority” in the assembly. The ruling party currently holds 147 of the 300 seats, while the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy lays claim to 126.
(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com) (hj257@ heraldcorp.com)
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