Uniform local elections, voting on April 11th and 25th next year, special law passed

The temporary special law stipulating voting dates for the 2027 unified local elections was unanimously passed and enacted at a plenary session of the House of Councilors on the 11th. Elections for heads and members of prefectures and designated cities will be held on April 11th, and elections for heads and members of other cities, wards, towns and villages will be held on April 25th. Approximately 1,000 elections are expected to be held across the country.

SNS election law is enacted, strengthens countermeasures against disinformation, applies to unified elections

In principle, elections are for mayors and members whose terms of office expire between March 1st and May 31st. Even if the period expires between June 1 and 10, it can be implemented at the discretion of local governments. The gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held in eight prefectures: Hokkaido, Kanagawa, Osaka, Nara, Tottori, Shimane, Tokushima, and Oita.

The Public Offices Election Act stipulates that elections for local government leaders and members must be held within 30 days before the end of their terms of office. However, in order to increase public interest in elections and save on election costs, elections are held once every four years on a unified schedule through the enactment of a special law.