I was wondering why the online system does not exist here too.
This low participation rate is mostly due to younger generation such 20s to early 30s, they just feel uncomfortable and embarassed going to the crowded site, not knowing how their votes affect future of this country. I think they don’t want to be told, so I think it is better having an online system where you can learn the basic, get some info about candidates and vote with one click. I guess it will increase dramatically, maybe not like in New Zealand, but it will be reaching 60 to 65, taking the broadband availabilty into account.

About this election, one program broadcasted the scene when Abe said with so much stress while making a speech on the street to support their candidates, “The parties make a difference are only Jimintou and Minsyutou!!”. I could not stop laughing for a while haha

As a New Zealander living overseas I was surprised how easy it is to cast an absentee ballot. I didn’t bother voting two elections ago (2002) because it was such a pain in the arse to cast a vote from overseas, but the changed the system before the last election (2005). All you have to do is log into the elections site and enter your name, birthdate, and “last residential address,” and then they send you the form by email. Just print it out, place a couple of ticks, and then fax it back to Wellington. You can vote by FAX, for christ sake. It couldn’t be any easier.

I think this helps explain why the voting rate in NZ is about 90%, and the average participation rate in Japan for the last few elections has averaged about 60%. My wife and a few other voting-rights-holder friends I know also didn’t bother voting because of how complicated it is when you register or change addresses. The system definitely needs fixing.

Anyway, good luck, even though you couldn’t vote. It looks like the minshu-to is going to do allright.

I really wanted to vote too, however i could not as a Japanese who has been living here almost 28 years! It was because of the document issue. I moved to Tokyo from Kanagawa a little while ago, but the city offiical sent me a letter of the poll almost 1 month ago when I was living in Kanagawa. So I took the poll card to the election center for people who can not make a vote on 29th, today. But they rejected me, saying that I am not belonged here since I move to Tokyo.
So I asked if I had to make a vote in Tokyo, then they said I can’t because I had to live there for longer than 2 months to gain the right to vote!

Anyway, I hope Minsyuto will gain lots of seats since I don’t want the leader, Ozawa to quit his career now!

Election platform of People’s New Party (PNP)
1. Restoration of safety and security
Wholesale reforms of pension system
Healthcare spending on par with other industrialized countries’
Reassurance on jobs, livelihoods
2. Regional revitalization
Develop, promotion of national land plan to correct disparities between local and urban areas
Development of the socioeconomic infrastructure needed for local areas to realize their potential
Increased allocation of resources to local areas
Revitalization of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
3. Changes in privatization of postal services
Submission of bill to change privatization of postal services, make required changes to maintain three types of postal services under one umbrella
Full use of post office network, requirement that all three types of postal services be provided
4. Balanced development and prosperity
Fiscal stimulus to increase domestic demand, enhancement of overall economic strength
Active use of Fiscal Investment and Loan Program
Increase in domestic consumer purchasing power through temporary tax breaks for small and midsize businesses and income tax relief for those with low to moderate incomes
More progressive taxation of the very rich and those with annual incomes of ¥50mn or more
Special tax measures and overseas transfer tax to increase labor’s share of income
Rollbacks of excessive deregulation, rules for coexistence
5. Education emphasizing discipline and morals
6. Making Japan revered around the world
7. Restoration of parliamentary democracy and the Diet
Source: The People’s New Party

The other interesting choice for Tokyo voters is General Tojo’s granddaughter who has campaigned with such classic phrases as “The only thing I think we did wrong in the war was lose.” I suspect that she is going to take a few votes away from the LDP.

Should be exciting stuff come Sunday