Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications informed that elections will be held during the emergency declaration area April 18, 18:22

Over the declaration of an emergency due to the spread of the new coronavirus, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has notified municipalities around the country that elections scheduled in the target area will also be held within the period required by law.

Following the emergency declaration, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications issued a notice to municipalities around the country regarding future election treatment.

The notification requires that elections scheduled in the region where the declaration is being made be made in accordance with the provisions of the current Public Office Election Law.

The Public Office Election Law stipulates the period for election due dates based on the expiration date of the term, etc., and it is not allowed to postpone beyond this period.

Regarding the elections in the target areas of the Declaration, the ruling and opposition parties have stated that special laws should be established and postponed, just after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The government does not have a plan to submit a special bill to the Diet.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, in its notification, also calls for thorough measures to prevent the spread of infection at polling and counting stations when electing in the target area of ​​the declaration.