Diet OK looms on bill to rectify rules that currently would prevent some young people from voting

Ruling and opposition parties agreed Tuesday to pass a bill soon to enable people aged 18 or 19 to vote in the House of Councilors election this summer even if they change their address shortly before the election.

Japan is set to lower the voting age from 20 to 18 on June 19, and the Upper House election, likely to take place in July, will be the first national election in which voters under 20 cast a ballot.

Under the current election system, municipal offices compile voter lists based on data of residents who live at the same address for more than three months. As a result, young new voters who move to a different address shortly before the election would not be able to exercise their right to vote.