South Korea election commission raided over alleged vote‑count tampering

South Korean prosecutors and police, acting as the joint investigative unit (합동수사본부), conducted simultaneous raids on the Central Election Commission (선관위) offices in Gyeonggi‑province and Seoul after the June 3, 2026 local elections. The raids seized servers, documents and messenger chats that suggest election officials deliberately altered voter‑turnout statistics to conceal errors arising from a nationwide ballot‑shortage crisis.

Investigators say staff entered incorrect voter numbers, then adjusted figures in other precincts to make the totals appear consistent, a practice described as “matching numbers.” Charges include tampering with official records and obstruction of official duties. Opposition parties have demanded the dissolution of the election commission, an extension of the parliamentary inquiry and the establishment of a special prosecutor.

Foreign reports from Slovak news agencies echo the South Korean findings, confirming that investigators found evidence of falsified participation data in the same election. The developing scandal raises concerns about the integrity of South Korea’s electoral process.