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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Top court: limiting voting rights for Japanese citizens abroad is unconstitutional

The Supreme Court on September 14 ruled that the Public Offices Election Law provision that Japanese nationals abroad can only vote in proportional representation constituencies is unconstitutional, and ordered the government to pay 13 plaintiffs 5,000 yen each in compensation.

This is the first Supreme Court ruling to order compensation for a legislative failure, and is the seventh Supreme Court judgment stating that the present law is unconstitutional.

The court stated that as means of communication have made remarkable progress on a global scale, people living abroad can easily get enough information to vote, even in a single-seat district.

Following the court ruling, the government expressed its intention to amend the election law by the next national election.

Japanese Communist Party Election Bureau Director Ohata Moto-o welcomed the court ruling and said, "Since the system of voting abroad was introduced, the JCP has consistently argued that voting rights of Japanese nationals living abroad should be guaranteed both in single-seat and proportional representation constituencies. The Diet and the government bear grave responsibility for leaving the matter unattended. The Diet should immediately take steps to change the law." -- Akahata, September 15, 2005