Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2017 April 19 - 25 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Citizens discuss how to guarantee right to vote for people with disabilities

A study meeting on how to secure disabled persons’ right to vote took place on April 22 in Tokyo. A citizens’ group working on this issue organized the event.

Professor at Waseda University Katagi Jun gave a lecture, calling for greater freedom in election activities.

Katagi was an official of the former Home Affairs Ministry (currently the Internal Affairs Ministry). Based on his experience as the chief of a ministry bureau in charge of election issues, the professor criticized the current Public Office Election Law for overly restricting freedom of campaigning. He explained about various problems in the law.

Kanazawa University Professor Emeritus Inoue Hideo, who heads the organizing committee, delivered a speech. He stressed that the right to political participation and freedom of expression are basic human rights and that the election law should be revised from the viewpoint of how to guarantee these rights for the disabled.

Tanaka Shoji, who has a visual impairment, said that campaign periods are so short that candidates cannot prepare pamphlets or leaflets designed for voters with impaired eyesight, such as braille, audio, or large-font versions. He added that he often feels as if he is being excluded from election campaigns.

Araida Keiko who provides voting-related support for persons with mental disabilities said that after learning about elections along with their families and care workers, more and more mentally-challenged persons came to exercise their right to vote.