There were 1,290,175 Japanese living overseas as of 2014. Of them, 853,687 were staying for extended periods of three months or longer and 436,488 were permanent residents, and these numbers are projected to grow in the future. On the other hand, 102,924 people were registered on the overseas voting roll as of 2015, and the figure has remained flat for the past nine years. The estimated registration rate has also peaked out at slightly less than 10%. In the interests of thoroughly ensuring the right of eligible voters overseas to vote, preparing an environment that makes it easy to vote even when overseas is a pressing issue.
The Democratic Party has been engaging in activities to improve the overseas voting system and to publicize the system so that it is easy for eligible voters overseas to vote. In May this year Yukihisa Fujita, Director-General of the International Department, and Vice Director-General Hiroe Makiyama held opinion exchanges with members of the Japanese community in New York and the Japan Overseas Voters Network, and listened to various views and requests. Based on these discussions with overseas voters, upon returning to Japan they held hearings and other exchanges with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Furthermore, based on these hearings, on June 1 Vice Director-General Hiroe Makiyama submitted to the Government the “Diet question for improving the voting system of overseas residents qualified to vote in Japan” and “Diet question on policies for increasing the number of people registering on the overseas voting roll” in written form. In the course of making various proposals, the Government recently (June 24) presented written responses to those question based on a Cabinet decision. The Government’s written responses use abstract expressions, but it was possible to identify several points that can be improved. The outline of the Diet questions and the Government’s responses are as follows:
1. “Diet question for improving the voting system of overseas residents qualified to vote in Japan”
*Diet question (in written form) and written response from the Government (Japanese only)
(1) With regard to proposals such as “increase the number of polling stations at diplomatic missions abroad, which account for 90% of expatriate voting, and open polling stations for at least one day at all diplomatic missions abroad,” the Government’s response was “In principle (excluding various exceptions) expatriate voting is implemented at diplomatic missions abroad, and we intend to continue making efforts to allow voting to be carried out at a large number of diplomatic missions abroad in order to ensure voting opportunities for eligible voters.”
Additionally, regarding “proposing the establishment of more polling stations at locations provided by Japanese government-affiliated financial institutions and the private sector,” the response received from the Government was “With regard to setting up the polling stations as suggested, we intend to respond appropriately based also on the fact that exceptions exist (such as facilities other than diplomatic missions abroad and ambassadors’ residences).” 
(2) Regarding “proposing extensions to the voting period and the voting hours” the Government responded that “We intend to give the utmost consideration to ensuring there are opportunities for carrying out voting at diplomatic missions abroad wherever possible.”
2. “Diet question on policies for increasing the number of people registering on the overseas voting roll”
*Diet question (in written form) and written response from the Government (Japanese only)
With regard to “proposing a system that would allow those individuals who have filed  notifications of moving overseas to simultaneously apply to register on the overseas voting roll,” “proposing abolishing or shortening the three-month residency requirement to qualify to register on the overseas voting roll,” and “proposing support for a system whereby individuals who temporarily return home have their overseas voting roll registrations erased four months after they file their notifications of moving-in,” the response received from the Government was that “The “Study Group on Measures to Improve the Voting Environment (tentative)” is holding discussions on improving the convenience of the procedure for registering on the overseas voting poll, including matters such as those suggested. We intend to continue to explore whether the potential exists for pursuing concrete improvements.”
Going forward also, the Democratic Party will work proactively to ensure that eligible voters overseas are able to carry out the act of voting and thus exercise their fundamental human right as sovereign citizens and as guaranteed under the Constitution, in the same way as eligible voters living in Japan.