Key Facts
• July 20, 2025: Upper House election held in Kyoto.
• 270,000 election pamphlets estimated to be undistributed.
• Only 70% of 770,000 pamphlets were delivered to households.
• Contractor “Beedream” claimed 92.5% distribution rate.
• Remaining pamphlets recycled on July 22 and 24 by two companies.
• Beedream reported 106,700 leftover copies but discrepancies remain.
• Contractor explained weight difference due to rain-soaked pamphlets.
• Kyoto City launched an investigation team on July 23, 2025.
• Over 100 complaints from voters about undelivered pamphlets.
• Public Election Law mandates delivery two days before voting.
• Kyoto City outsourced distribution for the first time, paying $220,000.
Summary
In the July 20, 2025 Upper House election, Kyoto City faced significant issues with election pamphlet distribution. An estimated 270,000 pamphlets were undelivered, despite the contractor “Beedream” reporting a 92.5% distribution rate. Only 70% of the 770,000 pamphlets reached households, with the remainder recycled by two companies. Discrepancies in leftover counts and weight calculations have raised concerns about the contractor’s accuracy, prompting Kyoto City to investigate. Over 100 voter complaints were received, highlighting the importance of timely delivery as required by the Public Election Law. This was the first time Kyoto outsourced distribution, paying $220,000 for the service.
