LDP Presidential Election: Ballot Non-Delivery Issues Emerge Nationwide

A serious problem has emerged in the ongoing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election, with some party members not receiving their ballots. In Kanagawa Prefecture, in particular, over 800 party members were temporarily stripped of their eligibility, preventing ballots from being sent to them. This issue is not confined to Kanagawa; similar cases have been reported nationwide, including in Hiroshima, Chiba, and Aichi prefectures, raising widespread doubts about the fairness of the presidential election.

Disenfranchisement in Kanagawa and Suspicions of "Targeting Takaichi Supporters"

The LDP Kanagawa Prefectural Federation reportedly corrected its membership numbers in June this year, resulting in an increase of over 800 members. However, trouble arose during the subsequent presidential election when these members did not receive their ballots. House of Councillors member Hiroshi Yamada questioned the explanation of "discrepancies," pointing out that "over 800 people were not sent ballots" and demanding a detailed explanation from the election management committee.

On social media, many have noted that a disproportionate number of members who supported Sanae Takaichi in the previous presidential election are among those who did not receive ballots. This has fueled suspicions of systematic malfeasance aimed at "crushing Takaichi," and calls are growing for Shinjiro Koizumi, who serves as the chairman of the Kanagawa Prefectural Federation, to provide an explanation and uncover the truth.

Opaque Situations Spreading Nationwide and Past Allegations

Beyond Kanagawa, there are reports of party members not receiving ballots in multiple regions, including Hiroshima Prefecture, where Fumio Kishida serves as branch chief, as well as Chiba and Aichi prefectures. Some members report paying their party fees but not receiving ballots, while others claim that the non-delivery is concentrated among those who previously voted for Takaichi, highlighting the deep-seated nature of the problem.

Furthermore, past issues of "ghost members" and "fictitious members" have been reported in Toyama Prefecture, where individuals became LDP members without their knowledge, or party fees were paid for five fictitious family members. These past allegations have reignited distrust in the party's membership management system. The current ballot non-delivery problem, combined with these historical suspicions, has led to strong concerns that it could escalate into "election fraud" or "speech suppression."

Shadow Over LDP Governance and Trust in Democracy

This series of problems casts significant doubt on the LDP's governance structure. There is widespread dissatisfaction over the lack of apologies to disenfranchised members and explanations merely attributing issues to "clerical errors." On social media, harsh opinions are prevalent, such as "the LDP is completely rotten" and "Japan's fate is at stake."

This LDP presidential election is crucial, as it effectively determines Japan's next prime minister. Therefore, transparency and fairness in its process are paramount. There is a growing demand for the LDP to conduct a nationwide investigation by a third-party organization, publicly release the findings, and severely punish any individuals found to be involved in wrongdoing. Restoring public trust in the party will require explanations that satisfy all citizens and fundamental reforms.

The Context

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is Japan's dominant political party, having governed for most of the post-war era. The LDP presidential election is therefore a highly significant event, as the winner typically becomes the Prime Minister of Japan due to the party's parliamentary majority. This effectively means that the LDP internal election determines the nation's leader.

The article refers to Sanae Takaichi, a prominent conservative LDP politician who was a strong contender in the previous LDP presidential election. Her supporters are alleged to have been specifically targeted in the ballot non-delivery issue. Shinjiro Koizumi, mentioned in the article, is a high-profile LDP figure and the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi; he chairs the Kanagawa Prefectural Federation, a key regional LDP organization. Fumio Kishida is the current Prime Minister and LDP President.

The "ghost member" and "fictitious member" issues refer to past scandals where individuals were enrolled as party members without their consent or where fake memberships were created, often to inflate membership numbers or influence internal elections. These past incidents contribute to public distrust when new irregularities, such as the current ballot non-delivery problem, emerge.