Data manipulation found at 30 election commissions

Falsified voter turnout entries occurred at 30 election commissions nationwide during the June 3 local elections, special counsel Lee Tae-hwan’s team said Thursday.

The special counsel team found data manipulation in 25 districts, cities and counties in its review of turnout records and interviews with some 70 election officials. A joint team of prosecutors and police found such false alterations at five regional election commissions.

The election commissions in question were found to have altered overall voter tallies to match mistakenly entered hourly turnout counts.

Earlier in the day, Lee’s team raided election bodies across the country to determine the range and magnitude of voter turnout manipulation. The National Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province and six local offices were searched.

The June local elections have been embroiled in controversy over a series of irregularities, including ballot shortages that prevented several voters from casting their votes. Lee’s team was launched in September to investigate voter counts, alleged data manipulation and other misconduct during the crucial election.