Gwacheon: Investigators raided the National Election Commission (NEC) on Friday to secure evidence over suspicions of data manipulation in connection with the June 3 local elections. A joint prosecution-police task force initiated a search and seizure operation at the NEC's headquarters in Gwacheon, as well as other local commissions in the capital, Gyeonggi Province, and North Chungcheong Province.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the team has been probing suspicions that some NEC workers manipulated computer system statistics without reporting them to their superiors. This alleged action was reportedly an attempt to cover up errors in voter turnout rates on election day. Under the current system, the NEC releases voter turnout data every hour based on figures reported by election management workers at each polling station.

The task force suspects that certain election workers bypassed the official authorization process, adjusting the figures arbitrarily under the instruction of NEC officials. This raid follows a previous one on July 23, which was also centered around allegations of data manipulation.

The latest search and seizure is part of a broader investigation into ballot shortages during the local elections, which resulted in some voters being turned away without casting their ballots. Investigators have identified alleged data manipulation in Seoul's southern wards of Gangnam and Seocho, as well as Gimpo and Uiwang in Gyeonggi Province. However, the investigation is anticipated to expand as indications of similar activities have been discovered in other regions of the country.