Double Voting Scandal Rocks Japan: Man Arrested, Early Voting System Under Scrutiny

The Metropolitan Police Department announced on March 9th the arrest of company employee Tomoyuki Koyama, 47, on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act by casting two ballots in early voting during the February House of Representatives election. It was further revealed that Koyama had actively encouraged illegal double voting on his social media, sparking widespread concerns over the integrity of the election.

According to the police announcement, Koyama is suspected of casting a ballot at an early voting station in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on the morning of February 7th. Approximately 30 minutes later, he allegedly visited a different early voting station in the same ward (located within the Chiyoda Ward Office), submitted another declaration form, and cast a second vote. It is believed that Koyama was able to carry out the double voting by simply stating his name, date of birth, and address, as he was not required to present his voter registration card or any form of identification.

What makes this incident particularly concerning is Koyama's active promotion of double voting on social media. He was found to have posted multiple messages encouraging illegal voting, including statements like "Polling stations don't ask for ID, you can vote twice," "It's easy to impersonate someone," "Let's vote as much as we can," and "Go vote many times." This action has drawn severe criticism as a grave election violation that undermines the very foundation of democracy.

On social media, the news of Koyama's arrest sparked numerous questions, such as "Is this just the tip of the iceberg?" and "How is double voting even possible?", leading to a cascade of opinions highlighting deficiencies in the electoral system. Many commenters stated, "Identity verification for early voting is too lax" and "A system is needed to clearly indicate that a vote has already been cast." Consequently, calls are intensifying for systemic reforms as preventative measures, such as making the presentation of identification mandatory and requiring authentication via My Number Cards.

This incident has underscored the urgent need for stricter identity verification within the current voting system, particularly for early voting, to ensure fair elections. The Metropolitan Police Department is continuing its investigation into the detailed circumstances, including Koyama's motives and whether any accomplices were involved.

The context

In Japan, the electoral system includes a process called "early voting" (期日前投票 - kijitsu mae tōhyō), which allows eligible voters to cast their ballots before election day if they have a legitimate reason (e.g., work, travel, illness). While designed to improve voter access, a significant feature of Japan's voting system—including early voting—is the relatively relaxed requirement for identity verification at the polling station. Voters are typically asked to present their voter registration card (which is mailed to them) or simply state their name and address. Unlike many Western democracies, a photo ID like a driver's license or passport is generally not strictly required to cast a vote.

This lack of stringent ID checks makes the system vulnerable to abuse, as demonstrated by this incident. Koyama's ability to vote twice by simply providing his details at different polling stations, without needing to show a photo ID, highlights a perceived loophole. Furthermore, his open encouragement of such illegal acts on social media magnified public concern, turning a single arrest into a broader debate about election integrity and the need for immediate reforms, such as mandatory photo identification or the use of Japan's national ID, the My Number Card, for authentication.