ID :
203292
Wed, 08/24/2011 - 15:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/203292
The shortlink copeid
Seoul's free lunch vote invalidated due to low turnout
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- A closely watched free lunch referendum in Seoul was nullified on Wednesday, as voter turnout fell short of the legally required quorum of one-third of all eligible voters, officials said.
The final turnout was tallied at 25.7 percent after the polls closed at 8 p.m., according to the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission. Under the current law, the unprecedented vote is valid only if more than 33.3 percent of the capital's 8.4 million eligible voters cast ballots.
The nullification of the vote will cost Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon his mayoral post as he previously promised to quit if turnout failed to reach 33.3 percent, dealing a blow to his conservative ruling Grand National Party ahead of next year's general and presidential elections.
In a tearful press conference on Sunday, Oh vowed to resign as mayor if the vote ended in failure, either due to low turnout or a majority in favor of the opposition.
The final turnout was tallied at 25.7 percent after the polls closed at 8 p.m., according to the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission. Under the current law, the unprecedented vote is valid only if more than 33.3 percent of the capital's 8.4 million eligible voters cast ballots.
The nullification of the vote will cost Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon his mayoral post as he previously promised to quit if turnout failed to reach 33.3 percent, dealing a blow to his conservative ruling Grand National Party ahead of next year's general and presidential elections.
In a tearful press conference on Sunday, Oh vowed to resign as mayor if the vote ended in failure, either due to low turnout or a majority in favor of the opposition.
