As the local city government has started to support the online voting system, costs that formerly went into installing voting booths and printing ballot papers are unnecessary, saving the apartment complexes money in operating costs. The new online voting system incurs costs of around 700 to 800 won per voter. (Image credit: Kobiz Media/Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Korea Bizwire) –Thanks to a new system that allows apartment residents to vote online for their representatives and other issues, more residents who had been previously too busy or disinterested are now exercising their rights to chose the best candidate to represent them.
As the new system makes voting much easier, just a click away as compared to the traditional method of filling in a ballot paper and placing it into a ballot box, management teams at apartment complexes have no reason to refute the system.
The change, currently being instigated by the Seoul government, has been met with a positive response from the public, as residents hope that the online voting system will bring about convenience, transparency, and effectiveness.
As the local city government has started to support the online voting system, costs that formerly went into installing voting booths and printing ballot papers are unnecessary, saving the apartment complexes money in operating costs. The new online voting system incurs costs of around 700 to 800 won per voter.
A number of collective decision making events are held at many apartment complexes in Seoul. (Image courtesy of Pixabay)
But as the Seoul government is providing financial support in an attempt to have the new system rooted, apartment complexes have been incurring almost no costs. The city has stated that it would be covering 50 percent of costs when the voting participation rate is below 50 percent, while paying for 100 percent of costs of operating the online voting system if the participation rate is over 70 percent.
Residents vote on an array of issues, from electing a resident representative to the amendment of management policies. In most cases, more than 50 percent of approving votes are required for a certain policy to be carried out and implemented. For senior citizens who are unfamiliar with the working of a smartphone, one management office of an apartment office is providing information on how to access the online voting program.
The city government of Seoul said that 100 apartment complexes utilized the online voting system in 2017, while 46 complexes have made use of them so far this year.
H. S. Seo (hsseo@koreabizwire.com)
