Key Facts
• June 20, 2025: Iruma City Election Commission nullified Masuda Hidemasa’s election.
• March 2025: Masuda, 52, won top votes in the city council election.
• November 2024: Masuda moved from Suginami, Tokyo, to Iruma, Saitama.
• Water usage under 1 cubic meter in 2 months indicated lack of residency.
• February 2, 2025: Recognized as the earliest date Masuda resided in Iruma.
• Election law requires 3+ months of continuous residency in the district.
• Masuda plans to appeal to the Saitama Prefectural Election Commission.
• June 19, 2025: Decision document handed to Masuda.
• Deadline for appeal: July 10, 2025; no appeal leads to next candidate’s promotion.
Summary
The Iruma City Election Commission in Saitama nullified the election of Masuda Hidemasa, a Democratic Party city councilor, citing insufficient residency. Despite moving to Iruma in November 2024, water usage records showed minimal activity, leading to the conclusion that Masuda only began residing in the city in February 2025. This violated the election law requiring three months of continuous residency before the election. Masuda, who won the most votes in the March 2025 election, expressed disappointment and plans to appeal the decision. If no appeal is filed by July 10, 2025, the next candidate will assume the position.
