Japan’s February Election Ruled Constitutional Despite 2.1x Voting Disparity

Two Japanese high courts ruled on June 12 that the February 2026 parliamentary election was constitutional despite a maximum 2.1-fold voting disparity between districts. The Tokyo High Court and Fukuoka High Court Miyazaki Branch both rejected lawsuits seeking to void the election. This marks the 15th consecutive “constitutional” ruling, with one final high court decision expected June 17 before the Supreme Court weighs in.

Courts Reject Election Nullification Claims

The Tokyo High Court and Fukuoka High Court Miyazaki Branch ruled on June 12 that the election’s district boundaries were rational and the voting disparity did not reach an unconstitutional level. Judge Sakamoto Masaru of the Tokyo High Court stated that the disparity increase was not severe and that corrections were planned. Judge Oda Shima of the Fukuoka court found no evidence of factors beyond natural population shifts causing the gap.

Voting Gap Widened From Previous Election

The February 2026 election used the Adams method, the same allocation system as the 2024 election, but the maximum voting disparity grew from 2.06 times to 2.10 times. Population distribution across districts did not align with seat allocation, creating unequal voting power. Lawyer Misao Mikio’s group argued this violated the constitutional guarantee of equal voting value.

Nearly All Courts Back Election Validity

Two lawyer groups filed 16 lawsuits across 14 high courts and branches nationwide. As of June 12, all 15 completed rulings found the election constitutional. The Nagoya High Court Kanazawa Branch will issue the final ruling on June 17, completing the high court stage. Plaintiffs plan to appeal to the Supreme Court, which will then issue a unified decision.

What Happens Next

The Supreme Court will provide a final ruling after all high court decisions are complete. If the court upholds the lower courts’ position, the election stands as valid. If it sides with plaintiffs, it could order a new election or declare specific districts invalid, triggering a political crisis.

Final Thoughts

With 15 of 16 high court rulings backing the election’s validity, the Supreme Court is likely to uphold the result. Voters in less-populated districts retain disproportionate power, but courts have consistently found this acceptable under Japan’s constitutional framework.

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