North Korean Elections: Understanding the System

Basic Structure

North Korea (officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) holds regular elections for the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), the country’s national legislature. These elections occur every five years under the current system.

The Voting Process

Several documented features characterize North Korean elections:

1. Single Candidate System

• Each district presents exactly one candidate
• Candidates are pre-selected by the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea, led by the Workers’ Party of Korea
• No opposition candidates appear on ballots

1. Voting Procedure

• Voters receive a single ballot with one name
• Voting booths contain no writing implements
• Voters may only cast the ballot or cross out the name (though this is extremely rare)
• The act of crossing out a name would be visible to observers, as voting booths lack privacy screens

Official Participation

Official statistics regarding North Korean elections consistently show:

• Near 100% voter turnout in all districts
• Nearly 100% approval for presented candidates
• These figures have remained remarkably consistent across decades

Legal Framework

The electoral system operates under specific rules:

• Voting age begins at 17
• All citizens are required to participate unless they are out of the country
• Local elections for People’s Assemblies also occur periodically

Role of the Supreme People’s Assembly

The elected SPA:

• Meets once or twice per year
• Sessions typically last only a few days
• Primarily serves to ratify decisions already made by the leadership
• Has never rejected a proposal in its history

The Selection Process

Candidate selection follows a strict pattern:

• The Workers’ Party of Korea dominates the selection process
• Candidates must receive approval from multiple levels of authority
• All candidates must be members of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea

Election Day Practices

Documented election day procedures include:

• Loudspeakers broadcasting music and announcements
• Organized group walks to polling stations
• Public checking of voter names
• Communal atmosphere with festivities

International Observation

Key points about external monitoring:

• Very limited access for foreign observers
• Most information comes from official state media
• Few independent assessments have been permitted

Historical Context

The current system emerged from:

• Post-1948 establishment of DPRK
• Soviet influence on governmental structure
• Adaptation to the dynastic leadership model
• Continuation of practices across generations of leadership

Administrative Structure

Elections are managed by:

• Central Election Committee
• Local election committees
• Party officials at various levels
• Government bureaucrats

Significance

These elections serve several documented functions:

• Formal legitimization of the government
• Public demonstration of unity
• Administrative census-taking
• Social organization and mobilization

Comparison to International Standards

When measured against international democratic standards, North Korean elections lack:

• Voter choice among candidates
• Secret ballot protection
• Independent election monitoring
• Opposition party participation
• Free campaign periods
• Independent media coverage

Record Keeping

The government maintains:

• Detailed voter lists
• Participation records
• Official election results
• Registration documents

Conclusion

North Korea’s electoral system serves primarily as a mechanism for formal approval of pre-selected candidates and public demonstration of political unity rather than as a competitive democratic process. The documented practices and outcomes demonstrate a system focused on unanimous participation and approval rather than voter choice or political competition.

Understanding these facts helps provide context for North Korea’s political structure and how it differs from electoral systems in other countries. While the system includes formal democratic elements like regular voting and a national legislature, its implementation creates a uniquely non-competitive electoral environment.