政治｜参院選の投票率が低迷中 / Politics | Voter turnout in the House of Councillors election is sluggish.

Summary

The voter turnout in the last election was 52.05%, so there are concerns about the current low participation.

The House of Councillors election in 2025 is scheduled for July 20, and as of 2 PM, the national average voter turnout stands at 18.51%, which is 0.26 percentage points lower than the same time during the previous election in July 2022. Additionally, reports have surfaced regarding voting irregularities and the possibility of double voting.

Dialogue

This dialogue is fictional and based on the article.

Chako: Hey Log, what’s going on with such a low voter turnout?
Log: Yeah, it’s a bit concerning that it’s only 18.51% as of 2 PM, which is lower than last time.
Chako: Wow, last time it was 52.05%! Why is it so low this time?
Navi: The decline in voter turnout is likely due to low interest and a lack of information.
Log: That’s true. While interest can increase as election day approaches, it seems like the opposite is happening this time.
Chako: Yeah, we definitely need to come up with ways to make people want to vote more!

Admin’s Note

It’s surprising that the voter turnout in this House of Councillors election was lower than in the previous one. The figure of 18.51% may suggest that the public’s interest in politics is waning. As pointed out in the conversation between Chako and Log, motivation to go out and vote is crucial. I believe the election authorities need to strengthen their information provision and outreach activities. It might be time to reconsider the voting system and implement measures that make it feel more accessible and relevant to the public.