Japan Press Weekly

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2011 January 26 - February 1 [POLITICS]

Another high court rules vote-value disparity as unconstitutional

The Takamatsu High Court on January 26 acknowledged that the vote-value disparity in the House of Councilors election was unconstitutional, following the November ruling by the Tokyo High Court.

On the same day, the Sendai High Court’s Akita Branch and the Fukuoka High Court’s Naha Branch also ruled that the vote-value disparity in the Upper House election caused inequality in seats. The three courts all turned down the claim that the election should be nullified.

The Judge in the Takamatsu High Court pointed out that the inequality is so clear that it has brought about a crisis in constitutional issues.

Nineteen cases have been filed at 14 courts throughout the nation questioning the equality of the value of votes in the Upper House election last July.

The maximum vote-value disparity was 5 (Kanagawa Pref.) to 1 (Tottori Pref.).