In response to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the trial over the disparity of one vote in the House of Representatives election, by-elections for three electoral districts, including the 4th Yamaguchi district of the House of Representatives following the death of former Prime Minister Abe, will be held this year. It will be held on April 23rd.
Currently, there are vacancies in the 4th Yamaguchi ward due to the death of former Prime Minister Abe, and the 1st ward in Wakayama and the 5th ward in Chiba due to the resignation of a member of the House of Representatives.
The Public Offices Election Law stipulates that if a vacancy occurs, a by-election will be held on the fourth Sunday in April or October. cannot hold an election.
Under these circumstances, the Grand Bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the maximum disparity of votes in the House of Representatives election in October 2018 was 2.08 times, and that it was "constitutional" and did not violate the Constitution.
As a result, three by-elections will be held on April 23rd.
Yamaguchi, Wakayama, and Chiba will change their district divisions according to the "10 increase, 10 decrease", but the by-election will not be a new division, but the existing division.
Also, based on the Public Offices Election Law, if there are new vacancies by March 15, the number of constituencies subject to by-election will increase.
Since April 23 coincides with the second half of the unified local elections, the relevant prefectural election management committees are rushing to prepare.