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Musashino city in Tokyo rejects proposal for foreigners to vote in referendums

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It also drew flak online, with critics saying it could be a step toward granting foreigners the right to vote

Heaven forfend such an outrage.

We're here to pay all manner of taxes and into the Ponzi pension and Insurance schemes, and to tell people whether or not we can use chopsticks when asked.

How dare some of us have the audacity to hope for any kind of representation in the country we chose to live and work?

33 ( +56 / -23 )

Portent of what is in store...?

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

The voting down of the ordinance came after the city assembly's general affairs committee approved last week the controversial plan proposed in November by Musashino Mayor Reiko Matsushita, who has called for creating a city that accepts diversity.

Musashino Mayor ok with voting right but not city assembly. They don't want voting right from foreigners but they want contribution from foreigners to their city from tax, insurance, pension etc. They just little bit picky people.

20 ( +38 / -18 )

To the people who are angry about this, would you still be happy about non-citizens voting in your own home country?

-22 ( +35 / -57 )

If you pay tax to the city, you should have a say in how it’s run. Every taxpayer should have the right to vote

32 ( +56 / -24 )

Yes, yes, and yes.

But unfortunately this isn't actually a democracy, if you haven't noticed by now.

11 ( +30 / -19 )

If residents can't have a say in how their taxes are spent, then they shouldn't have to pay any tax.

No taxation without representation, and all that.

29 ( +48 / -19 )

@vaxatharian

To the people who are angry about this, would you still be happy about non-citizens voting in your own home country?

Sure. If they have to pay taxes like every other person, then they deserve to have a voice in who spends that revenue and how it is spent. What is unfair about that?

23 ( +41 / -18 )

Of course they did. They didn’t get their job by being open minded or actually caring about people.

11 ( +25 / -14 )

I guess it could have been expected.

Score another point for the anti-foreigners. (Anti-foreigners are doing well these days since COVID hit.)

Considering that "results of local referendums are not legally binding", isn't the "referendum" more like an opinion poll. Hard to think how foreigners living here can damage Japan's sovereignty by registering their stance on issues.

14 ( +29 / -15 )

If you really want to vote, I think your should make the commitment to become a citizen. I mean, nobody's forcing you to stay in Japan and make a living here. And there are probably plenty of people who still vote in their home country without having lived there for years - so get representation without taxation. I did, before my voting rights expired.

What's more, how many of us speak Japanese well enough to understand local issues to a level where you can make an informed choice? I'm not throwing darts here, just genuinely curious.

-10 ( +27 / -37 )

Does that mean a non Japanese no longer has to contribute to their pay, and incidentals?

6 ( +21 / -15 )

What is all this fuss about? What influence would you have if you were allowed to vote? Almost nothing, at maximum you can give your opinion if a bridge is painted orange or red or if there’s the 184th seniors’ Hula dance club opened at the community center or only 183 and one HipHop dance Club for the few remaining children. Come on, no one , neither foreigners nor Japanese, really need such senseless elections and not even their outcomes.

-6 ( +18 / -24 )

vaxatharianToday 05:10 pm JST

To the people who are angry about this, would you still be happy about non-citizens voting in your own home country?

You do realize this is not about voting in the national elections, don't you?

10 ( +25 / -15 )

I'm not happy with the wording of this headline. A better word would be "legal immigrants" and not "foreigners". Regardless of the Japanese word gaikokujin, in English, "foreigners" implies and can include people who don't reside in a country and have never even visited. This referendum was not about such people; it was about legal tax-paying immigrants, and the headline should have indicated such.

23 ( +34 / -11 )

To those that wonder how the right to vote might influence candidates in local elections should familiarize themselves with the current mayor of London.

1 ( +13 / -12 )

National erection, we are way way away from that, but locally it would be empowering to have a small nod to PR. And how many suits do you need to represent an area? Most voters have problems knowing what day it is.

way way too many suits for no purpose other than their own.

4 ( +12 / -8 )

Foreign residents should be allowed to vote in local referendums under the same criteria as those applied to Japanese nationals.

10 ( +27 / -17 )

Yes

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

MocheakeToday  05:40 pm JST

vaxatharianToday 05:10 pm JST

To the people who are angry about this, would you still be happy about non-citizens voting in your own home country?

You do realize this is not about voting in the national elections, don't you?

Of course. I'm open to changing the rules for people with PR in local elections, like Cricky said, but probably not at the prefectural level and certainly not at the national level.

0 ( +12 / -12 )

RecklessToday  05:36 pm JST

If you really want to vote, I think your should make the commitment to become a citizen. I mean, nobody's forcing you to stay in Japan and make a living here. 

Such a wonderful comment. Tens if not hundreds of thousands of Japanese have foreign passports and may vote in foreign elections. On the other hand, the Japanese government prohibits foreigners from getting a second Japanese passport. Take and then give, maybe, is the Japanese way.

If it's that important to you, why not move to a country that lets non-citizens vote in local elections? Assuming you're living in Japan now, nobody is forcing you to stay. Why should the Japanese change the rules just to keep you happy? I've got PR and I'm not upset about it, because I knew about the rule up front and still came here.

-3 ( +20 / -23 )

If you want to vote or have your say heard in matters of our national interest, get a Japanese passport and ledge allegiance to us. period. Thank you for such contribution otherwise it’s a risk to deal with in the long run. When it’s a group 10 maybe not much but a million will probably change a whole agenda, which might not serve us all as citizens of this country .

-2 ( +16 / -18 )

Did anyone honestly think this would have passed?!! This is a country that doesn’t even accept dual citizenship so good luck in voting rights for foreign residents

6 ( +14 / -8 )

Always the same comments linking taxes and having a voice. When you drive on the highway, you pay toll but it doesn't make you shareholder of the motorway operator...

Racism? Ridiculous. My Japanese wife is married to a foreigner (me) and yet she's opposed to me voting in Japan. Why? She couldn't vote in any French elections. I don't blame her. Same apply to those married to US, UK, Canadian, OZ citizens...

Most of foreigners in Japan are Asians. With the exception of South Korea none of other Asian countries allow foreigners to vote. Do Japanese people want to see Chinese, Thai or Vietnamese vote in Japan while Japanese have no such right in those countries. Brazilians? Only citizens from Portugal are allowed to vote in Brazil, why the hell would Brazilians be allowed to vote here? China? elections don't even exist...

As a tax payer in Japan I must admit I would be a terrible hypocrite to advocate permanent residents to vote here while perfectly knowing such thing is absolutely not allowed back in France.

If Japan would allow permanent residents to vote based on reciprocity most you here would still cry foul because it would probably exclude most of you, right?

5 ( +23 / -18 )

I’ve bene here for over 20 years, paid a hell of a lot of taxes and social security and never took a dime. I like Japan and the Japanese but my experience is this is no country for foreigners. You’re accepted here as long as you stay basically transparent and shut up. So be it, I stay on making money but this is the way this country is run by the elite of old angry little men and it will never ever change

10 ( +20 / -10 )

@tokyobakayaro

Well said!

0 ( +16 / -16 )

Honestly I am already happy that the question was asked, it’s a start and the demonstration that inclusive and participatory practices are possible in Japan too - just not yet, but there are many people thinking about a different society. To me what is still puzzling is that my Japanese son will be able to vote in a few years, then will lose that right if ever he wants to keep his other ´half’ nationality at 20. So from a country that takes away rights from its own citizens, I consider this discussion a great advance in and of itself.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

I would happily become Japanese,

if Japan allowed dual nationality.

15 ( +26 / -11 )

tokyobakayaroToday  06:23 pm JST

Well said!

-2 ( +11 / -13 )

Just 3 months, you can have a say? which part of which countries making it happen?

0 ( +8 / -8 )

@kurisupisu

Japan should never do that.

One loyalty, never divided.

-19 ( +9 / -28 )

Was I surprised?

i have been paying here taxes over many decades much higher than the average Japanese.

japan didn’t even have to pay for my education through 20 plus years.

I just have the same obligations as any other Japanese but zero rights.

Xenophobia is the name of the game but then why do business with overseas why make Olympics if only Japanese are clever enough to vote for better services?

7 ( +21 / -14 )

Until 2016, the population of a local area (市町村) did not even count non-Japanese. If you were here before then, you have wonder if any of the taxes you paid nationally, like the consumption tax, ever made it back to your town.

The "it's a first step to them voting in national elections" is classic scaremongering. That decision, which is a million miles away and will probably never happen, would have absolutely nothing to do with Musashino City.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

For those who are complaining maybe you should read the book 'Silent Invasion' by Clive Hamilton.

-4 ( +9 / -13 )

@Iron Lad

Loyalty to what?

The Hinomaru?

Do you really think that carrying a country’s passport inspires loyalty?

6 ( +17 / -11 )

“i have been paying here taxes over many decades much higher than the average Japanese.

japan didn’t even have to pay for my education through 20 plus years.“

You will be a hell of a citizen. Impressive. But the right to vote is what makes a citizen different from otherwise so until then I would advise you to work toward citizenship. If not one would question your commitment to this country. Maybe just me.

1 ( +14 / -13 )

Great news, well done Japan!!..

Do another country let expats to vote??..

Imagine US immigrants voting..

If you want to vote in another country than yours, try first to learn the costumes, the culture, the language and get citizenship..

You have to earn the right to vote, It's not only paying taxes, its a matter of get naturalized first..

Its country..

Its laws..

Its culture..

Its costumes..

Unless you be Japanese citizen, vote in your own country..

Plain and simple..

-5 ( +19 / -24 )

Surprise surprise Japan.

Keep it ignorant.

How are all that tax money that foreigners pay every month?

Keeping things rolling in the economy?

Filing up corrupt politicians pockets?

-4 ( +13 / -17 )

Tax is an obligation. Vote is a right. You can’t buy the right to vote

0 ( +17 / -17 )

Before you are a city-resident, you must be a Japanese to have a say to whatever or however trivial matters, especially when you can hop around with your multiple passports. Paying Tax? so what? Unless you pay tax, you should not use any such kind of public infrastructures.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

Voting rights should be reserved for citizens in order to avoid conflicts of interest.

Non citizens in my country and just about every single other country cannot vote nor run for office.

But non citizen's voices and concerns should be taken into account.

7 ( +14 / -7 )

@shogun36

If you don't pay taxes, you shouldn't even be in a country, let alone vote.

The absolute state of mind for westerners.

-3 ( +12 / -15 )

Ahaha @tokyoliving I am afraid you chose the wrong example, immigrants in the USA can not vote without taking the American nationality, true, but there’s currently more than 23 million people (over half of the total immigrants in the country) who are naturalized and can vote and be elected for offices as high as State Governor. Japanese citizens can make the choice of not extending any of their own rights, which they earned by doing absolutely nothing else than being born here, to the foreigners who leave in the country; they can choose to take away those rights from Japanese who refuse to give up their ‘other’ culture, and continue being racist with those who renounce to the other nationality to be a Japanese citizen but look different. But the fact they can make these choices doesn’t make them nice choices, and I am happy to know there are people in Musashino, Zushi, Toyonaka and elsewhere in Japan that are trying to build a more open minded, diverse and inclusive society.

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

Although the vast majority of cities in the US do not allow voting, there are 11 municipalities in the US that do allow non citizen residents to vote. And add New York to the list as of Dec 9th.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

“If you pay tax to the city, you should have a say in how it’s run. Every taxpayer should have the right to vote”

No. you work here and earn your living here you must pay taxes but that doesn’t mean you have all the rights of a citizen. Otherwise what’s the point of being a citizen? If I pay tax in the US does it give me the right to vote in a referendum or local election?

2 ( +14 / -12 )

Doesn't matter how long you've lived there, doesn't matter how may taxes you've paved. You're always a foreigner. No reason to live there

4 ( +9 / -5 )

*paid

0 ( +3 / -3 )

There is so many people that just throw out the "If you want the same rights, then become a Japanese citizen" most of us would already have Japanese citizenship if they allowed dual citizenship like most other countries, while Japan turns a blind eye on Japanese citizens getting dual citizenship elsewhere. In many countries it takes like 5 years to get citizenship without having to give up anything. If you pay the same taxes and spend reasonable long enough time in that country you should have the same rights, there is no logical reason for that not to be a thing.

The only reason all these rules and hurdles exists is because of nationalism and xenophobia and nothing else. Most of the people in power today would rather see Japan burn to the ground then to see it become a more diverse society.

7 ( +18 / -11 )

“, but there’s currently more than 23 million people (over half of the total immigrants in the country) who are naturalized and can vote and be elected for offices as high as State Governor. “

They are naturalized citizens. So they are citizens. They have the right to vote. That’s obvious. If you want to vote here, naturalize to be a Japanese citizen!

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

damn. maybe someday.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

“Loyalty to what?

The Hinomaru?

Do you really think that carrying a country’s passport inspires loyalty?“

not everyone. There is always a traitor or three everywhere. We can’t prevent that. But citizenship, with or without a passport, allow you to vote. It’s a matter of principle and law. Don’t question it.

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

vaxatharian

"To the people who are angry about this, would you still be happy about non-citizens voting in your own home country?"

Guess what: that is perfectly fine in my home country. Voting for municipalities only requires you are a registered resident of that municipality.

For provincial an national elections one needs to be a citizen.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

The only reason all these rules and hurdles exists is because of nationalism and xenophobia and nothing else. Most of the people in power today would rather see Japan burn to the ground then to see it become a more diverse society.

@JRO - well said! An open minded and multi cultural society would never vote for the crooked LDP and they know this!

0 ( +8 / -8 )

“If it were only so simple. For one, even if one naturalizes, one will never be accepted as a true Japanese, and secondly, renouncing one’s country of birth comes with consequences of its own.”

On your first point, it’s not relevant here. You vote no mater what being a citizen. Many foreigners gain acceptance and respect here. Discrimination exists everywhere! On the second point, JP laws don’t allow dual citizenship so make a choice. If not, this is not for you.

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

“@JRO - well said! An open minded and multi cultural society would never vote for the crooked LDP and they know this!“

this is off topic in my opinion, mods!

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

If you want the RIGHT to vote, you should become a CITIZEN! Simple! Non-citizens should NEVER have the right to vote.

1 ( +12 / -11 )

To the people who are angry about this, would you still be happy about non-citizens voting in your own home country?

In national elections? No. But in local elections where it’s just local stuff that only affects local residents at stake like this I have absolutely no problem with it.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

So. It is an absurdist claim to assert a right to vote, solely based on paying taxes. Essentially, you are asking for rights of citizenship, simply by paying taxes. What a queer sense of entitlement to deem one is owed the right to vote, as a foreigner, in a foreign country, by paying taxes.

The path to becoming a Japanese citizen is clearly determined. However, you cannot possess dual citizenship nor can a native born Japanese.

Non-citizens cannot vote in any elections in the USA, even if they have a Green Card and pay taxes.

2 ( +13 / -11 )

I'm a citizen of THREE countries, two by Jurist Sanguinus and one by Juris Soli. By law, I can not vote in two of them, and in the can not vote due to "red tape". I'm a PR of Japan but WILL not become a citizen due to the requirements of relinquishing ALL other nationalities. I CHOOSE to keep three passports. I ACCEPT the fact that I can not and SHOULD NOT be able to vote as a non-citizen. One day, I MAY reside in ONE of my citizenship states and then MAY vote. Maybe!

2 ( +10 / -8 )

amid concern voiced by some conservatives that it could give foreigners a say in national security matters

Haha, this is pure gold. Local election, national security? Please explain, I have gotta hear this one.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

Japan should something something ... Human rights ... something something.... beacon to the world.... something something....

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Good for them. Foreigners should not be voting in Japanese elections. That should be reserved for citizens. I pay plenty of taxes in Japan. I feel I do have a voice just by calling the city office or talking to local representatives. They have listened and provided clear answers or actions on several occasions. I know in the US I didn't want foreigners voting in our elections either.

2 ( +13 / -11 )

It’s high time foreigners got with the programs and donate excessive amounts of money to the LDP then they could pass a law allowing a 1/3 vote weight to foreign PR.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

Good to see many people speaking sense, if you want to vote, renounce your former country's citizenship and naturalize.

That's fair for both sides.

Never, ever allow dual citizenship, that's the road to a failed state like the US!

-10 ( +12 / -22 )

@Richard Gallagher

As always, the voice of reason.

We might disagree but I tip my hat to you, sir.

-11 ( +7 / -18 )

Good for them. Foreigners should not be voting in Japanese elections. That should be reserved for citizens. I pay plenty of taxes in Japan. I feel I do have a voice just by calling the city office or talking to local representatives. They have listened and provided clear answers or actions on several occasions. I know in the US I didn't want foreigners voting in our elections either.

Japanese are told who to vote for, they don’t vote. Letting foreigners vote might mean change. That would Be a shock !

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

I fail to see how a foreign residents vote in a referendum in Musashino City is a threat to Japan's national security.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

glad to see the oyajis photographing the auspicious moment for posterity.... (⌒▽⌒)

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I think the biggest issue was the 3month period. Is too short. Who knows what these so called voters could do if they don't even plan to stay for long and just decide to vote to mess with certain policies.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Foreign residents should not have the right to vote.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

No problem, it would be a good idea for foreigners to start moving and investing in the cities that are friendlier and gives voting rights to it's foreign residents.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

""Never, ever allow dual citizenship, that's the road to a failed state like the US!""

How sad to see people posting such a comment, the U.S. is NOT a failed state, never was never will be, a failed state can't be #1 economy, Can't have the largest reserve of any thing, or were people are free to choose any life style they wish to live.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Allowing non citizens to vote in any manner is ridiculous and probably unlawful in any country. What possible reason can they use? It sounds like what the Democrats are trying to do in the United States to gain more power and keep it. I doubt one person in ten foreign residents in Asia would be interested. Spanish speaking residents in the USA would mostly be more interested in voting Republican unless their relatives could join them.

states to gain more power

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

@Mark

How sad to see people posting such a comment, the U.S. is NOT a failed state, never was never will be, a failed state can't be #1 economy

That's China right now, not the US.

US's economy is fiction. Paper pushing.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Being oneself is better than being ignored.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Foreign residents in many countries are not allowed to vote in local elections, that's pretty normal. I know lots of Japanese expats who are residents of a foreign country who are not allowed to vote in State or Federal elections. That right is only granted with Citizenship.

Don't see anything particularly strange about this decision at all.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

“Japanese are told who to vote for, they don’t vote. Letting foreigners vote might mean change. That would Be a shock !”

Wrong. We Japanese do vote. Not all though but that’s none of my business coz if you have the right and not exercise it then don’t complain. Sometimes we voted the wrong people in power. That happens everywhere. Letting foreigners vote is like selling your country to… China (just an example). Shocked?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

hattorikunToday  01:38 pm JST

Sometimes we voted the wrong people in power.

Only sometimes?

That happens everywhere.

With the same predictable regularity?

Letting foreigners vote is like selling your country to… China (just an example).

No, it's not. Not unless any of the candidates, who would and should be Japanese nationals, planned on selling the country to China.

Shocked?

Not really. This argument against allowing foreign nationals to vote is about as widespread as it is flimsy.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

For a democracy to exist, voting must be restricted to property owning citizens.

When all people have the right to vote, mob rule by the loudest ensues, leading to the collapse of democracy.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

As a foreigner married to Japanese myself. I don't see how this is even a thing for debate.

paying tax doesn't mean you should have the right to vote.

You are paying tax because you live here, you use the public properties, the roads, libraries etc.,

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Good for the city! You want the right to vote in this country, then become naturalized, like the thousands of us who have done it.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I have lived in Japan for a long time and never felt the slightest need to vote. Most people can’t be bothered voting anyway.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Tom SanToday  08:51 am JST

Foreign residents should not have the right to vote.

Hm. Any kind of limit or restriction usually serves some useful purpose, e.g. it reduces accidents if only people with licences are allowed to drive. What kind of problem does not letting foreigners vote prevent?

knight_of_HonourToday  09:10 am JST

Allowing non citizens to vote in any manner is ridiculous and probably unlawful in any country.

Nothing can be "unlawful" in a particular country if it's also "allowed."

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

To be fair, citizenship privileges are not human rights. If you want absolute equality, communist China and N Korea are certainly your better choices.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So, Gaijin WANTS to vote in Japan, while the Japanese CANNOT vote in Gaijin's beautiful and more advanced countries.

Gaijin is annoyed because Japan said NO.

The audacity of some people!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Peeping_TomToday  10:35 pm JST

So, Gaijin WANTS to vote in Japan, while the Japanese CANNOT vote in Gaijin's beautiful and more advanced countries.

So? If Japanese nationals live abroad and pay taxes in the countries where they live they should be allowed to vote as well. Other than emotive guff about proving loyalty to the country by naturalising or whatever, I've yet to read one compelling argument against letting foreigners vote, in Japan or anywhere else.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

"Some countries allow foreigners to vote in certain elections."

That's correct.

However, the issue here is Japanese nationals, not the fact Irish can vote in the UK, or a German in France and vice versa.

Japanese cannot vote in the EU.

In the UK only Scotland allows it, providing they're residents.

Not in England, not in Wales, not in N Ireland.

Why should Japan allow the Chinese to vote?!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I've never agreed with giving non-citizens the right to vote in federal or even prefectural elections. I can understand letting them vote in municipal elections though.

If foreigners want to vote in Japan, there is a pathway to it; taking citizenship. If you aren't willing to take on citizenship, it shows that you don't have the requisite loyalty to Japan to be making decisions in the country's best interests, and therefore shouldn't be given the right to vote.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

StrangerlandToday  01:13 am JST

If foreigners want to vote in Japan, there is a pathway to it; taking citizenship. If you aren't willing to take on citizenship, it shows that you don't have the requisite loyalty to Japan to be making decisions in the country's best interests, and therefore shouldn't be given the right to vote.

Fair point, if there have ever actually been many, or indeed any, cases of foreign nationals with voting rights in a country not making decisions in its best interests. I think that rules such as this should be based on precedent, not lofty-sounding but really rather vague and meaningless sentiments about "loyalty" to a country. That's not what voting is about for most of the actual citizens anyway. They're voting for whoever they think will act in their particular interests, not the country's. That's how Japan has been stuck with the LDP in charge for decades.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Christopher LoweryToday  08:09 am JST

If you pay taxes and your income is entirely earned in Japan, the reasons for being banned from voting seem a bit shallow.

The basic argument appears to be that it is in some way dangerous. I've never seen this adequately explained.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Good - only citizens should have the right to vote. If you want to vote, become a Japanese citizen.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

It would be interesting to carry out an opinion poll among foreigners in Japan to find out how many foreigners are really permanent resident holders and claiming voting rights and how many are interested to renounce their present nationality and prefer to switch over to Japanese citizenship.

For me, holding EU citizenship, other issues are clearly more imporant while living in Japan: to be the owner of my condominium unit, enjoy full health insurance cover, no working permit required etc. I am now 65+ and like to be a 'Japanese' senior with reduced fare using the JR railway, half price on public bus network in my area, free entrance to swimming pools and museums....

Voting rights? About myself, I really don't care, no issue for me at all. Of course I have to pay taxes like every Japanese citizen.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

NosuiDec. 24  01:25 pm JST

Good - only citizens should have the right to vote.

Why, just because they happen to have been born in a particular place? Should they be automatically entitled to driving licenses as well?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Why would foreigners vote in Japan they can already vote in there home country also Japanese people abroad are unable to vote in there host country too. Only citizens can vote in all countries of the world. Does foreign people in the comments lack common sense and education?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Kei KuronoToday  05:15 am JST

Why would foreigners vote in Japan they can already vote in there home country ...

I can't vote in my home country.

...also Japanese people abroad are unable to vote in there host country too.

In some countries they are allowed to vote in certain elections.

Only citizens can vote in all countries of the world. Does foreign people in the comments lack common sense and education?

Don't know about foreign people in the comments but you don't appear all that well-educated on this issue yourself.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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