Key Facts
• In 2025, the author participated in Japan’s House of Councillors election from Singapore.
• Overseas voting allows Japanese citizens abroad to vote in national elections.
• Eligible elections include proportional representation and district elections for both houses.
• Local elections in Japan are not covered by overseas voting.
• To vote, one must register for an Overseas Voter Certificate after living abroad for 3+ months.
• Required documents include a valid Japanese passport and proof of address.
• The certificate takes 2–3 months to process and must be collected in person.
• Voting methods include embassy voting, postal voting, or voting in Japan.
• The author chose embassy voting, which took approximately 20 minutes.
• Only 10–20% of eligible overseas voters participate, despite 130,000 Japanese living abroad.
• The author emphasized the importance of voting, even from overseas, to shape Japan’s future.
Summary
This article highlights the author’s first experience with overseas voting in Singapore for Japan’s 2025 House of Councillors election. Overseas voting enables Japanese citizens abroad to participate in national elections, excluding local ones. To vote, individuals must register for an Overseas Voter Certificate after residing abroad for at least three months. The process involves submitting documents like a passport and proof of address, with the certificate taking 2–3 months to issue. Voting options include embassy voting, postal voting, or voting in Japan. The author chose embassy voting, which was efficient and family-friendly. Despite the low participation rate of 10–20%, the author encourages overseas Japanese to exercise their voting rights, emphasizing its significance in shaping the nation’s future.
