December 11, 2010

The Hiroshima High Court on December 10 ruled that the vote-value disparity in July’s House of Councilors election was “extremely unequal” and unconstitutional.

The judge, however, rejected the plaintiffs’ claim that the election should be annulled, saying that the Diet’s failure to revise the electoral system before the election cannot be regarded as an abuse of power.

The maximum vote-value disparity of 5 to 1 in the latest House of Councilors election has been questioned in 19 lawsuits filed throughout the country. A similar ruling was made by the Tokyo High Court in November.
- Akahata, December 11, 2010