E-voting in Japan: a developing case?

Abstract

This paper aims to introduce the current situation of electronic voting (e-voting) in Japan and discuss its challenges. E-voting has gradually spread in Japan. It has been used a total of twenty times by ten local governments since it was first introduced in 2002. Under the current law, e-voting can be used only for the election of the head of local government or council members. The paper first introduces the actual state of e-voting in Japan. Then the current status and challenges of the electronic voting system are analyzed based on data obtained from the experiences of Japanese cases. Finally, the paper discusses what challenges the Japanese e-voting has, and what could be given as prescriptions for them.