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North Korean voters face little choice in local elections North Korean voters face little choice in local elections
(about 3 hours later)
North Korea has held local elections to decide provincial governors, mayors and People's assemblies, with voters typically offered a choice of only one candidate and voting carried out in public. North Korea has held local elections to decide provincial governors - with the official turnout recorded at a near-perfect 99.97 per cent of the population.
There is usually a near-100% turnout in North Korean elections as voting is mandatory for everyone over the age of 17 and abstaining is considered an act of treason. Voters do not mark their ballot papers, but put them into a ballot box to show support for pre-approved candidates. There is only one candidate on the paper for each district.
A near-100% turnout in North Korean elections is common since voting is mandatory for everyone over the age of 17 and abstaining is considered an act of treason.
Observers say the polls are used as an informal census, allowing the authorities to ensure citizens are where they are supposed to be and identify defectors.Observers say the polls are used as an informal census, allowing the authorities to ensure citizens are where they are supposed to be and identify defectors.
Voters do not mark their ballot papers, but put them into a ballot box to show support for pre-approved candidates. According to the official figures from the weekend's poll, then, 0.07% of the eligible population avoided the vote.
There is only one candidate on the paper for each district. North Korea has a population of 24.9 million people. Figures for what percentage of North Korea's population are of voting age are not available, but perhaps a rough calculation can still be made:
Those elected in the vote over the weekend will have four year terms, but very little political power. Analysts say they are intended to validate decision made by the government and rarely meet. The CIA World Factbook records that 21.5% of the population is under 15, and a further 16.3% are between 15 and 24 years old. Extrapolating somewhat, about 18.8 million North Koreans may be of voting age.
At a very rough estimate then, about 13,160 North Koreans were either excused from voting or took their life in their hands.
Those elected in the vote over the weekend will have four-year terms, but very little political power. Analysts say they are intended to validate decisions made by the government and rarely meet.
Nonetheless, North Korea analysts will have monitored the elections for signs of who is favoured by Kim Jong-Un, the North Korean leader.Nonetheless, North Korea analysts will have monitored the elections for signs of who is favoured by Kim Jong-Un, the North Korean leader.
Mr Kim himself is an elected official; in the last parliamentary election in 2014 he won 100% of the vote in his Mount Paektu constituency.Mr Kim himself is an elected official; in the last parliamentary election in 2014 he won 100% of the vote in his Mount Paektu constituency.
North Korea's full official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).North Korea's full official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).