Key Facts
• July 2025: Upper House election highlighted significant vote disparity.
• November 7, 2025: Sendai High Court ruled the disparity as ‘unconstitutional state.’
• Disparity: Kanagawa district had 3.13x more voters per representative than Fukui.
• Miyagi district also showed a 3.08x disparity compared to Fukui.
• Plaintiffs from five northeastern prefectures (excluding Akita) sought election nullification.
• Court rejected nullification claims, citing Supreme Court precedents.
• Judge Yosuke Ishigaki emphasized the severe inequality in voting value.
• Court stated achieving vote equality is Parliament’s responsibility.
• Nationwide rulings: 10 cases, 4 deemed constitutional, 6 ‘unconstitutional state.’
• Miyagi Election Commission acknowledged partial rejection of plaintiffs’ claims.
Summary
The Sendai High Court ruled on November 7, 2025, that the vote disparity in the July Upper House election constituted an ‘unconstitutional state.’ The disparity was most pronounced in Kanagawa, where voter representation was 3.13 times that of Fukui, and in Miyagi, with a 3.08x disparity. Plaintiffs from five northeastern prefectures sought election nullification, but the court rejected this, referencing Supreme Court precedents. Judge Yosuke Ishigaki highlighted the severe inequality in voting value and stressed that Parliament must address this issue. Nationwide, 10 similar cases have been ruled on, with six deemed ‘unconstitutional state’ and four constitutional. The Miyagi Election Commission acknowledged the rejection of plaintiffs’ claims while noting partial recognition of their arguments.
