The government's refusal to accept mail-in ballots filled out on behalf of physically disabled people is not an illegal act meriting damages, but it violates their voting rights and is unconstitutional, the Tokyo District Court ruled Thursday.

The court thus rejected a lawsuit by three people seeking a total of 2.7 million yen in compensation from the government.

The suit was filed by two Tokyo residents suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, and the husband of a Tokyo woman who died during the deliberations.