Dwarfed Election Reform

Election reform of House of Representatives may be dwarfed as merely a reduction of ten seats and some adjustment between the districts. Fundamental review to eliminate value gap of each vote is postponed after 2020, when the government will make next national next demographic survey. This is a significant ignorance of Constitution of Japan, which guarantees people’s equality under the law, by the lawmakers.

The Researching Committee for Election System Reform recommended the Speaker of House of Representative, Tadamori Oshima, to introduce a population proportional system in distribution of seats, the system called Adams Method, named after 6^th United States President John Quincy Adams. However, the lawmakers with Liberal Democratic Party have firmly opposed Adams Method, recognizing it as significant disadvantage against them.

Oshima required each party to submit proposal for the reform. LDP approved introducing Adams Method after 2020, setting four-year moratorium. Their opinion also included reduction of one seat in each of six prefectures and four seats in proportional representatives. Democratic Party demanded immediate introduction of Adams Method, based on the result of last national demographic survey in 2010. Oshima could not find the final deal between them. It is likely that the proposal from LDP will pass the House, as long as it occupies stable majority.

The Supreme Court decided that the election of House of Representatives in 2014, which caused the greatest gap of one-vote value with 2.13 times, was in a state of unconstitutional. The House has been required immediate reform of their election system. Reflecting demographic move from local area to urban city, adjustment of election district may damage LDP, the party which traditionally has advantage in local districts. If Adams Method is introduced in next election, the adjustment will be greater than it will be done after 2020. In short, LDP chose an option less damaging.

For Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, early settlement of dispute over election system is necessary for keeping freehand for dissolution of House of Representatives this summer. Without any progress in it, next election may also be criticized as unconstitutional. Legitimacy of the dissolution will be questioned. Abe was urging LDP leaders to find a deal as soon as possible.

It is still unclear, however, whether LDP will implement its promise for 2020. Further delay of introducing Admas Method is possible. It is a kind of gerrymandering in time frame.