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)
*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)
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.
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.