So the citizens still have to physically vote even though there’s only 1 option?

Yep! Technically tho, they can cross out the name of the candidate to vote “no”.

See that little table to the right? They have to use the red pen sitting on top of it. But don’t worry, it’s “anonymous”!

Apparently in more recent elections, “no” votes just go in a separate bin?

It also appears to double as a census, since voting is mandatory. That same Wikipedia article says elections are watched by the inminban to keep an eye out for no-shows.

To be completely fair, there is apparently one position in local elections that can actually have two candidates. It’s mostly a figurehead that’s subordinate to the unelected mayor, but hey! Two names on the ballot!

Can’t find anything about how ballots are counted, though that doesn’t exactly surprise me.

To be clear, Kim Jong-un was not up for “election” in 2019. According to Wikipedia, it was actually the first time someone in his seat didn’t even bother with the sham.

Not like it’s a huge change, going from being the only name on the ballot to not even letting people vote.