The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-06-21
VOTING IN JAPAN.
Curious Election Laws in which tho Ma
tives Arc Immensely Interested.
., ol N lrrn 70 nr.lo 1,f ...4...l 4io..n La

Curious Election Laws In which tho Ma
tives Arc Immensely Interested.
An elaborate code of regulations has
been promulgated for the management
Of the eloctio which in these days of
ballot-reform agitation may be of inter-
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
tho former that for the purpose of re-
turning members, the administrative
divisions of the Empire into cities and
procedures should be taken as a basis,
each city and prefecture being sub
divided into election districts on the
principle of equal representation, as far
as possible, for equal numbers of the pop.
ulation. Thus ToSioreturns twelve mem
bers and Osaka ten, outof 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 a
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
q full period of one year, and in the case
of income for a full period of three years
before the day on which the register is
made up. The most interesting features
of the system, however, are the arrange.
ments provided for securing free and
orderly voting and honest returns. En-.
trance to the polling-places will be
granted only to qualified voters who
have previously obtained tickets indi.
eating their right. Should there be
considerable crowd at any place, the
electors will be required to vote in reg.
ular order according to the numbers on
their entrance tickets. There will be
no ballot boxes in the ordinary sense of
the term. Each elector will give his
name to the presiding official, the head
man of the district, with whom are to be
associated not less than two and not more
than five witnesses, nominated by him.
Having compared the name with the cleo.
toral list, the head man will hand voting
paper to the elcctor, who will be re.
quired to inscribe theron the name OF
the person he votes for, together with
1,i ~
fix his stamp. The voting paper will
then be placed in receptacle having
two lids, ach fitted with different
key, one key being in the custody of the
headman, 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
Thereit is to be opened by the chairman
of election, with whom will be asso
ciated 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 10.
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.
cials 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.-Tokio Cor. n. Y. Trib.
nm