Ahead of the unified local elections, NHK conducted a questionnaire survey of election committees of municipalities nationwide asking them how people with disabilities respond to voting. We received more than 40 responses asking for the scope of postal voting, which is strictly restricted by law, to be broadened.

For those who have difficulty getting to the polling place, "vote-by-mail" involves filling out a ballot at home and voting by mail. Six years ago, a study group of experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications put together a proposal that the scope should be broadened, but the law has not been amended.

These are the voices received in the questionnaire and the thoughts of the people concerned.

"Expanding the scope of voting by mail" from the field of election management

In January and February, NHK conducted a questionnaire survey of the secretariat of the Election Commission in all municipalities nationwide asking how they had responded to voting for people with disabilities.

When asked questions in a format where people were asked to freely describe what they needed to do to create an environment where everyone could vote, we received more than 1 responses asking for the scope of voting by mail to be expanded.

Vote-by-mail is a system in which people who have difficulty moving can cast their ballot by filling out a ballot sent to them at home without going to the polling place and mailing it.

The main responses to the questionnaire were:

"Since the requirements for using ballots by mail are strict and only a limited number of people can use them, I would like the country to amend the law and relax the requirements" "
Due to the strict conditions, we may have to refuse the delivery of ballots, and we hope to expand the number of eligible people."

"Currently, it is limited to a very narrow range, such as people requiring long-term care 5, but I would like to call on the government to expand the scope to include people in need of long-term care 3." "If the requirements are relaxed, people with disabilities who want to vote but cannot go to the polling place will be able to vote from the comfort of their homes."

Iwata City Election Committee Naoto Tamura

Among them, a person in charge of the election committee in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture, said, "I have to explain that there are people who cannot go out for any reason, but I have to explain to them to come to the polling place, and I feel very distressed every time I receive a consultation.

Regarding the strict restrictions on the scope of postal voting, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) states that "the target is limited for the purpose of maintaining the fairness of elections due to cases of fraud that abused postal voting in past elections."

On the other hand, six years ago, a study group of experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications compiled a proposal that the scope should be expanded.

"Consider Revision of the Law"

Hayato Kojima, an election management advisor who was a member of the expert study group, said, "We have always received harsh opinions from the people concerned and their families that the current system is wrong, and I think that the answers to the questionnaire represent the heartbreaking voices of the people concerned. I hope that the political side will take it seriously and consider revising the law."

"Election for All" Municipal Election Committee Questionnaire

Click here for detailed survey results

Even if it is difficult to go out, it is "not eligible"

"I have a strong desire to be able to vote by mail after it became difficult to walk,"

says Miyoko (pseudonym), who is in her 40s and wants to expand the scope of voting by mail. Three years ago, I developed an incurable disease called spinocerebellar degeneration.

Due to the effects of the disease, I was paralyzed in the left half of my body, and it became difficult to walk stably without a claw.

"When I'm walking down the street, I sometimes end up on the right side without realizing it and almost hit the roadway, so I rarely go out as much as I used to."

Even when they are in the house, they sometimes wobble and almost collapse. On this day, he fell right after getting out of bed.

It was difficult to walk to a polling station about two kilometers away, so Miyoko wanted to vote by mail.

However, the answer I got back from the person in charge of the local government was "not eligible".

Miyoko's physical disability certificate

Voting by mail is permitted by law if the disabilities of both lower limbs, trunk, and mobility function are grade 1 or 2. This is a person who loses the function of the legs or has difficulty standing up.

On the other hand, Miyoko, a grade 3 student who is said to be milder than that, cannot use postal voting even if it is difficult to go out.

Miyoko has no income other than a disability pension. In the last six months, I have applied to more than 10 companies to find jobs that I can do from home, but I have not been hired.

"I can't move my hands well because of paralysis, so it takes a long time to type on the computer, so I hope I can somehow find a job that I can do even if I have a disability."

Even with that in mind, I am worried about whether I will be able to go to the polling place.

"I think there are a lot of people like me who find it difficult and difficult to get to the polls, and I hope they will open up the scope of vote-by-mail a little more."

People with mental disorders are also "not eligible"

It's not just people with physical disabilities who want to expand the scope of voting by mail.

"I can't go out and I can't vote,"

said Nari (pseudonym), who is in her 20s and lives in Fukuoka Prefecture, on NHK's special website "Election for All."

Nari's subjective symptoms

When Nari was a teenager, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental disorder.

It is not uncommon for people to be unable to go out for a long time if they have repeated major ups and downs in their state of mind and continue to have depressive symptoms.

However, people with mental disabilities are not allowed to vote by mail.

Nari says that she is confined to her house and always watches the news.

I am interested in political movements and have always wanted to cast one vote as much as possible.

"I believe that politics has the power to help vulnerable people, but there were times when I wanted to vote but my symptoms got worse and I gave up," he says.



"I wish I could vote by mail,"

Nari wrote on the site.

On NHK's website "Election for All," there are many complaints from people with mental disorders that they cannot go to vote, such as "I can't go to a lot of people," "Panic occurs when I go to an unfamiliar place," and "I tend to feel strong anxiety due to mental disorders.

Being able to take it for granted

Nari's desire to vote is stronger because when she was able to vote before, she felt that she had become a member of society.

The House of Councillors election was held in July last year.

Nari prepared for the vote by adjusting the amount of medicine she took and taking care of her physical condition.

Then, on Election Day, I received a message from Nari with a photo of the polling place.

Email from Nari

"I'm happy that I was able to do what everyone else normally does,"

said Nari, who was in good physical condition on the day of the vote and was able to go to the polls with her family. The joy of being able to cast one vote was conveyed from the text.

Polling station photographed by Nari

I have a disability and can't go to vote. The circumstances vary from person to person, but I hope that the system will gradually change to one that captures the thoughts of those who wish to vote.

The procedure is also difficult for the target person

On the other hand, people who can use postal voting also suffer from the complexity of the procedure.

According to the Japan ALS Association, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) = an intractable disease in which muscles throughout the body gradually stop moving, and patients who have difficulty going out say that they are struggling to vote by mail because of the time and effort.

In order to receive a ballot, you must first notify the local election committee of the application paper and a copy of your disability certificate and obtain a "postal voting certificate".

After receiving your certificate, you can apply to the Election Commission at least 4 days before Election Day to receive your ballot and a special envelope.

After that, the procedure is to send the ballot in an envelope.

In addition, some local governments require the submission of originals such as disability certificates, and NHK's website "Minna no Election" has received comments such as "I had to give up voting by mail and force myself to go to the polling place because of the difficult procedures such as being asked to submit the original disability certificate."

You can tell more about this vote-by-mail on this program.
【Broadcast date】E-tele: Sunday, April 4, from 2 p.m.

Hartnet TV Special Elections for Everyone Unified Local Elections

People with disabilities can't go to vote! We will examine the elections of Japan that are full of barriers and consider what is necessary to make it easier for everyone to participate, through examples from various regions.

Vote-by-mail What is the current scope and background?

By law, voting by mail is limited to those who have a "physical disability certificate" or "war injury certificate" with a severe degree of disability and those who need long-term care 5 under long-term care insurance.

In addition, from June 2021, the target was expanded to people who are infected with the new corona and are at home or in hotels.

This is a detailed classification of grades that allow you to vote by mail.

▽ The physical disability certificate is for people with "impairments of both lower limbs, trunk, and mobility" that are grade 6 or 1.
People with "cardiac, pancreatic, respiratory, bladder, rectal, and small bowel disorders" in Grade 2 or 1.
▽ "Immunity and liver disorders" are classified as grade 3, 1, or 2 in people.

▽ The War Injury and Illness Handbook is for people with "disorders of both lower limbs and trunks" who have special category disease, paragraph 3 disease, or paragraph 1 disease.

People with "disorders of the heart, pancreas, respiratory, bladder, rectum, small intestine, and liver" are special or 2st, 1nd, or 2rd.

▽ People with a long-term care insurance card of level 3 are also eligible.

Many people want this "postal ballot" to be expanded because they can vote from the comfort of their homes, but only a few people can use it.

Originally, home-based voting was more widely accepted shortly after the war, but it was abolished due to a series of frauds such as "identity theft", and was reintroduced in 5 while taking measures to prevent recurrence, such as requiring the issuance of certificates.

In 1974, an expert study group of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications proposed that the scope should be expanded, but since then, the revision to expand the scope of voting by mail has been limited to the new coronavirus.