EXCLUSIVE: 23 Pct of Major Cities in Japan Banned Photos at Polling Stations

Tokyo, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press)–Over 20 pct of major cities in Japan prohibited voters from taking photographs at polling stations in the House of Councillors election in July, a Jiji Press survey found. Of the 52 polled major cities, 12, or 23 pct, banned photography at polling stations, 31, or 60 pct, asked voters to refrain from taking photos and nine, or 17 pct, allowed it. When limited to photography at tables for writing ballots, only eight cities, or 15 pct, banned it, while 28, or 54 pct, called for voters to refrain from doing so and 16, or 31 pct, allowed it. The survey covered election boards in the 52 cities, with responses gained by late October. Morioka, Yokohama, Sagamihara, Toyama and Shizuoka, which did not prohibit photography at polling stations in the Upper House election, said they are considering changing their rules, including possibly tightening restrictions. Article 60 of the public offices election law allows for the restraint and removal of people who disrupt order at polling stations. But there is no provision directly banning photography. In the Jiji Press poll, 14 cities said they hope the central government will ban photography under the law or present a uniform policy on the matter. In the Upper House election, executives at a “pachinko” pinball parlor operator who have been charged with promising to pay a cash reward to employees in return for voting for a certain candidate allegedly had them send photos of their ballots. In separate cases, some users of X posted pictures of their ballots with captions saying they voted for a certain candidate. Such posts could be deemed election campaigning and may violate the public offices election law if made on voting day. Election board officials expressed concerns about photography in polling stations, including fears that sending photos or posting them on social media undermines the principle of secret voting guaranteed by the Constitution. They also voiced worry about issues caused by the noise of camera shutters and people being photographed without their permission, as well as the lack of legal basis for restricting photography. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]