The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-21
VOTING IN JAPAN.
Curious Election Laws in Which the Ma
tlyes Are immensely Interested.

curious Election Laws in Which the Ma.
tives Are Immensely Interested.
An elaborate code of regulations has
been promulgated for the management
of the elections, which in these days of
ballot-retorm agitation may be of inser-
est to tho electors of other lands. This
code Is supplementary to one issued
simultaneously with the constitution,
in which the general scheme was laid
down, the details being reserved for the
subsequent law. 1t was provided by
the former that for the purpose of re-
turning members, the administrative
divisions of the Empire into cities and
procedures should be taken as basis,
each city and prefecture being SUBJ
divided into election districts on the
principle of equal representation, as far
as possible, for equal numbers of the pop
ulation. Thus Toxic returns twelve mem
bers and Osaka ten, out of three hundred.
The qualifications for electors are that
they must be Japanese subjects and
have attained the full age of twenty
five years before the day OF voting; also
that they must have their permanent
residence in the electoral district, and
have actually resided there for not less
than one year previous to the date of
preparing the register. The property
qualification is high. An elector must
pay in land or income tax at least SIS
year, so that to exercise the franchise
man must possess either land of the
taxable value of $500, or an annual in
come of $1,000. In the case of land the
voter must have been paying the tax for
a full period of one year, and in the case
IOfincome for full period of three years
before the day on which the register is
made up. The most interesting features
dthe system, however, are the arrange
nsnts provided for securing free and
oaerly voting and honest returns. En-
| trnce to the polling-piaces will be
grnted only to qualified voters who
haze previously obtained tickets indi-
eating their right. Should there be a
comfortable crowd at any place, the
eleGors will be required to vote in reg
ula1order according to the numbers on
thel. entrance tickets. There will be
no blot boxes in the ordinary sense of
the ERIN. Each elector will give his
nam to the presiding official, the head
manof the district, with whom are to be
associated not less than two and not more
thantive witnesses, nominated by him.
Having compared the name with the cleo
torallist, the head man will hand voting
pape. to the elector, who will be re-
qu1red to inscribe theron the name of
the prison he votes for, together with
his own name and residence, and to af-
fix hs stamp. The voting paper will
then 10 placed in a receptacle having
two Ids, Zach fitted with a different
key, one key being in the custody of the
headmn, the other in that of the wit
nesses, The polling being over, the
box will be shut and forwarded in charge
OF one or more Of the witnesses, to the
district Office of the place of polling.
There it is to be opened by the chairman
OF election, with whom will be asso-
ciated a committee of not less than three
and not more than seven, chosen from
among the witnesses assembled from
the different voting places. The chair
men, like the experimenting officers at
the various polling booths, are to be To-
cal officials, who owe their offices to the
votes of the people themselves under
the regular system of local government.
Not until the names of the persons elect
ed are communicated by the chairman to
the Governor or project will the Off
Gals of the central government have
any connection with the business. The
greatest interest in these arrangements
is taken by the Japanese, who manifest
an almost childlike delight at the pros
pect OF voting. Toxic Cor. n. Y. Trib-
une.