Japan election lawsuits filed over vote disparity now challenge the results of Sunday’s House of Councillors election. On Tuesday, legal teams across Japan demanded the vote be nullified and rerun.
The lawsuits claim that unequal vote weight violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equality. Although reforms have narrowed past gaps, the latest disparity reached 3.13 to 1. That number surpasses the 3.03-fold gap from the previous 2022 upper house election.
Lawyers submitted lawsuits to several high courts, including Osaka, Matsue, Okayama, and Naha. Two separate legal groups organized the filings. During a press conference, attorney Hidetoshi Masunaga criticized lawmakers for ignoring past rulings. “The top court urged reform, but this election used the same flawed system,” he said.
Historically, Japan’s Supreme Court has labeled large vote disparities unconstitutional. It ruled elections in 2010 and 2013 violated constitutional equality. However, the court stopped short of overturning results. Instead, it urged legislative bodies to address the issue.
According to Kyodo News, Kanagawa had the highest number of voters per lawmaker in this election. Fukui Prefecture had the lowest. This contrast reflects ongoing urban-rural imbalances in electoral representation.
Japan election lawsuits filed over vote disparity highlight a recurring legal and political issue. In past years, the government attempted to reduce gaps by merging small prefectures into joint constituencies. Tottori and Shimane, as well as Tokushima and Kochi, were paired in 2015.
These mergers helped lower the disparity from 5.00-fold in 2010 to 3.00-fold by 2019. The Supreme Court ruled that 2016’s 3.08-fold and 2019’s 3.00-fold disparities were constitutional. Yet, critics say the government has stalled further reform.
The recent increase to 3.13-fold suggests that past efforts may no longer be enough. Moreover, the Supreme Court, in its 2023 decision, called this issue “urgent,” warning lawmakers not to delay further.
Legal experts believe these lawsuits could increase pressure on the Diet to act. However, previous legal efforts have failed to cancel election results. Courts tend to call the system unconstitutional without forcing a re-vote.
Still, Japan election lawsuits filed over vote disparity could force deeper debate. Voter equality remains essential in any democracy. If left unresolved, disparities may continue to erode trust in Japan’s political system.
