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Fukuoka and Takamatsu High Courts Uphold 2026 Lower House Election Over Vote Gap Claims

The decisions reflect a 2025 Supreme Court finding upholding the current district map.

Overview

  • Both courts, issuing rulings Tuesday, found the February 8 vote constitutional and rejected lawsuits seeking to void the results.
  • Voters backed by a lawyers’ group brought coordinated challenges nationwide, and these are the first judgments among 16 suits filed across 14 high courts.
  • The largest gap in vote weight reached 2.10 times, with Hokkaido’s 3rd district compared with Tottori’s 1st, edging up from 2.06 in 2024.
  • The election used the Adams method, a seat-allocation formula meant to better match seats to population, and this was the second contest run under that system.
  • Plaintiffs said roughly twofold gaps show the map lacks rationality, while prefectural election boards argued the disparity was not severe enough to undermine the system’s reasonableness.