In a highly charged political environment, Okinawans head to the polls Sunday for prefectural assembly elections in voting that may result in a legislative body that strongly supports revising the 1960 Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States.
Many voters in Japan's southern most prefecture want local governments hosting bases to have more authority over U.S. personnel suspected of involvement in crimes, even more so now after the recent murder of a local woman allegedly at the hands of a U.S. base worker.
In addition, the poll could strengthen the political hand of Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga, who is in negotiations with Tokyo, and his supporters who oppose the relocation of a U.S. Marine base at Futenma to Henoko, on the northern part of the main island.