Election Administration Commission

The Election Administration Commission was established as an institution independent from the mayor to provide for fair elections.The commission is composed of four members elected by the City Council. The Election Administration Commission Secretariat provides election information to the public, along with conducting the commission's general affairs and various national and regional election work including the preparation of electoral rolls and acting in an advisory capacity for the Ward Election Administration Commissions.

Organization

Election Administration Commission
Election Administration Commission Secretariat - Election Department
Ward Election Administration Commissions - Secretariats (24 wards)

Election Outline

Election Principles
Elections are the cornerstone of democracy.
Japan's constitution stipulates three election principles.
1. Universal suffrage
  Voting is a right held by all citizens of age.
2. Equal voting
  Every person is entitled to one vote, regardless of gender, wealth, education, etc.
3. Secret ballots
  Elections are conducted in a manner that protects the privacy of the voter.
  
  In addition, the following two principles are protected.
  1. Free elections
    Elections are conducted according to the free will of the elector.
  2. Direct elections
    Electors directly elect their representatives
Main types of elections
- Diet members (House of Representatives, House of Councilors)
- Regional Representatives (Prefectural and Municipal Assembly Members or Councilors)
- Heads of Local Public Bodies (Governors, Mayors)

Elections in Osaka City
Election	Voter Eligibility	Candidate Eligibility
Members of the House of Representatives (small electoral district, proportional representation)	Japanese citizen, 20 years of age or older.	Japanese citizen, 25 years of age or older.
Members of the House of Councilors (electoral district, proportional representation)	Japanese citizen, 20 years of age or older.	Japanese citizen, 30 years of age or older.
Governor of Osaka Pref.	Japanese citizen, 20 years of age or older who has lived in Osaka City for at least three months may vote in Osaka City. Those who resided in Osaka City for at least three months, but who now live elsewhere in the prefecture are also eligible to vote in Osaka City (electors may vote only once).	Japanese citizen, 30 years of age or older.
Osaka Pref. Assembly Members		Must meet the elector requirements and be 25 years of age or older.
Mayor of Osaka City	Japanese citizen, 20 years of age or older who has lived in Osaka City for at least three months.	Japanese citizen, 25 years of age or older.
Osaka City Councilors (Municipal Assembly)		Must meet the elector requirements and be 25 years of age or older.

Voting age is as of election day.
The above requirements do not apply to those who have lost their voting or candidate eligibility due to a criminal conviction, etc.

Work Outline

Election Administration Commission Meetings
The Election Administration Commission deliberates on matters that fall under the authority of the commission, such as registration on electoral rolls, election management and voter awareness.
Registration of electoral rolls
In order to vote, an eligible voter must be registered.Elector rolls are regularly updated by the Ward Election Administration Commissions based on the basic resident register.
Registration of overseas electoral rolls
There is a system by which overseas residents can participate in national level elections. To vote absentee, it is necessary to be registered on the Election Administration Commission's absentee voter rolls. Those who meet eligibility requirements can be registered as absentee voters upon application to the commission.
Election management
As stipulated by law, the commission is responsible for the administration of Diet elections (House of Representatives and House of Councilors), prefectural and municipal assemblies, governors, and mayors as well as the elections of other public offices such as the Agricultural Commission.
Voter awareness
In order to combat bribery and electoral fraud and to ensure fair and equal elections that reflect the mind of the electorate, the commission hosts various lectures, publishes a newsletter, collects election-related posters, displays campaign ads, etc.
Electoral roll preparation for the Agricultural Commission
The Agricultural Commission is an administrative commission independent from the mayor that represents the general interests of agriculture and farmers. Some of the Commission members are elected and voters must be registered on the Agricultural Commission's electoral roll. This roll is prepared by the Election Administration Commission.
Electoral roll preparation for the Osaka Marine Fisheries Commission
The Marine Fisheries Commission is in charge of fishery matters in the Osaka Marine District. Some of the Commission members are elected and voters must be registered on the Fisheries Commission's electoral roll. This roll is prepared by the Election Administration Commission.
Selecting tentative nominees for the citizen-judges
The Citizen-Judge System is introduced into criminal trials in Japan, in order to reflect the common sense of ordinary citizens in the trial results and procedures and to enhance the national understanding in the court system. A court will select the citizen-judges by lottery from the list of citizens. The Election Administration Commission makes the list of the tentative nominees by lottery from the electoral roll.
Selecting nominees for the committee members for prosecution inquests
The prosecution inquest is a system that allows citizens to review whether the decisions by public prosecutors to drop criminal cases are appropriate or not. The Committee Secretariat will select the members of the inquest by lottery from the list of citizens. The Election Administration Commission makes the list of the nominees by lottery from the electoral roll.
Petition signature verification
Regional politics consist of an indirect democratic system whereby citizens elect representatives.However, petitions allow citizens to directly participate in the democratic system, and are widely recognized.There are many types of petitions such as ordinance enactment petitions, audit petitions, petitions for the dismissal of an assembly member, governor or mayor, etc.Petitions require a fixed number of signatures by eligible voters.The Election Administration Commission determines the validity of all signatures, reports the total numbers, etc.

Questions?

Contact the Election Administration Commission Secretariat, Election Department
Address: 3-20 Nakanoshima 1-chome, Kita-ku, Osaka City 530-8201
Tel:06-6208-8511(Japanese Only) Fax:06-6204-0900