The Korea Football Association’s Election Management Committee announced that there will be no introduction of online or early voting methods ahead of the 55th KFA presidential election to be held on January 8 next year.
The Korea Football Association explained on the 26th, “As a result of the election management committee’s discussion on electronic ballot counting (online voting) or early voting methods related to the 55th presidential election at the 4th meeting on the 24th, we will inform you that we have decided not to adopt it.”
Former national team coach Huh Jung-moo, who ran as a candidate for the 55th president of the Korea Football Association, insisted on the introduction of online voting and early voting for leaders and players in the field who are unable to participate in voting due to overseas training schedules.
However, the Election Management Committee explained on the 26th, “In the case of the Korean Sports Association, online voting was conducted four years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, but online voting is excluded due to the problem that it is difficult to guarantee secret voting.”
“FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also require electors to come to the polls and participate offline in elective general meetings that elect members of the president, FIFA Council, and AFC Board of Directors, according to regulations and policies,” he added. “Even during the pandemic, these federations did not introduce online voting for elective general meetings, and as a result, they failed to replace presidents or directors whose terms ended.”
“This is because the prevailing opinion is that online voting methods cannot completely guarantee the principles of ‘secret elections’ and ‘direct elections’, which are one of the four principles of elections,” he said. “It is common not to mix online and offline methods even when looking at election voting by general groups other than sports.”
The election management committee also considered the possibility that the runoff could take place immediately after the first vote was counted. 메이저사이트
Chairman Chung Mong-gyu, who made the announcement on Monday, said, “It is not a matter for me as a candidate to decide. The election management committee will decide.”
Meanwhile, the election for the 55th president of the Korea Football Association has been narrowed down to a three-way race between current chairman Chung Mong-gyu, former coach Huh Jung-moo, and commentator on the newspaper line. The registration period for candidates is until July 27, but no additional candidates are expected to register.
The election will take place on Jan. 8 next year. The elected president will begin his term on Jan. 22.