Developments in Contemporary Japanese Electoral Law

Lowering the Voting Age from 20 to 18 Years Old

Abstract

This article examines an important development in contemporary electoral law in Japan: the lowering of Japan’s eligible referendum and election voting age from 20 to 18 years old. The lowering of the voting age is inextricably linked to the LDP’s agenda of constitutional reform in Japan, but the article’s detailed examination of the processes and debates which led to the voting age reforms shows that this agenda was not the sole driver; reformers were also concerned about global norms, demographic imbalances and declining voter participation and turnout rates. The first election after the reforms held in July 2016, however, further cemented the Liberal Democratic Party’s dominance, despite reporting of widespread dissatisfaction with many of its policies, and possibly paves the way for controversial constitutional amendments.