The Democratic Party's Convention Preparation Committee on Monday finalized the voting reflection ratio for electing the party leader and supreme council members at the August 17 national convention, setting it at 70 percent for delegates and eligible members and 30 percent for public opinion polls. Starting with this convention, the votes of delegates and eligible members will be reflected at a one-to-one ratio, which is expected to further increase the influence of eligible members.
Song Ok-ju, vice chair of the Convention Preparation Committee, said in a briefing after the first meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "This convention has introduced changes to the composition of the electorate and the method of reflecting votes." She added, "The overall reflection ratio is set at 70 percent combining delegates and eligible members, and 30 percent for public opinion polls, but by reflecting the votes of delegates and eligible members under the same standard, we have more clearly implemented the principle of member sovereignty."
This convention marks the first application of the "one-member-one-vote system" for eligible members, which was promoted by former party leader Jung Chung-rae. Previously, the votes of delegates and eligible members were reflected at a ratio of 17 to 1, but going forward they will be reflected equally at a one-to-one ratio. As a result, with the influence of eligible members' votes growing, the competition among party leadership contenders to distinguish themselves is expected to intensify.
The committee also finalized the convention schedule that day. Candidate registration for the party leader and supreme council members will take place July 16-17, and the preliminary contest will be held on the 21st. The provincial and city tour contests will begin August 1 in the Chungcheong region, including South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong, Daejeon, and Sejong, continuing for three weeks, and the final winners will be elected at the national delegates' convention held at the Daejeon Convention Center on August 17.
Representative Lee Yeon-hee, who serves as spokesperson for the committee, said, "Regarding the preliminary contest, matters such as the number of those elected, the voting method, and the decision to apply weighting to the electorate reflection ratio will be discussed at the next meeting." The second meeting will be held on the 2nd of next month.
