'Voting' begins in North Korea

'Voting' begins in North Korea
Updated 11.32 Sun Jul 29 2007
The election of deputies to North Korea's 'People's Assemblies' has begun but there will be no surprise results.

The deputies are pre-selected by the ruling Workers Party, so there is only one candidate in each ballot, but a vote is seen as approval for the candidate, while it is also possible to register disapproval on the ballot paper.
"I feel the benefit of our socialist system" - Ri Myong-hi
Portraits of former leader Kim Sung-il and his son, the current North Korean leader Kim Jong-il are on display in the streets and posters bear slogans including "Let's vote in agreement".
In the dictatorship, voting does not take place in private and defectors say participation in the elections is compulsory.
Voter Ri Myong-hi, from Pyongyang, said: "I feel the benefit of our socialist system and the people's power through my life experience, and so, I cast a ballot of approval before anybody else this morning."
The election also acts as a census, allowing a thorough registration of the population.

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