 The 2,583 Deputies to the Second National Council for Reunification were elected on 18 May 1978, with a voter turnout of 79%.However, by the time of the presidential election, one deputy had resigned from office and another had died, meaning there were a total of 2,581 deputies in office on the day of the presidential election.In order to be elected, a candidate had to receive the vote of over 50% of the incumbent members of the National Council for Reunification.