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The Mainichi
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Rumors suggest double-voting, impersonation possible in Japan elections. They are false
TOKYO -- As the July 20 House of Councillors election approaches, social media platforms are awash with claims like, "Advance voting does not require ID, so one person can vote multiple times, and even those without voting rights can cast a ballot." Double-voting and voting by those without suffrage are prohibited under the Public Offices Election Act, so is this truly possible? ID not required? On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, posts have emerged since around July 3, when campaigning for the upper house race officially kicked off, claiming, "Since there's no ID check, you can impersonate someone else to vote as many times as you want," and, "Advance voting doesn't require an ID. You can get as many ballots as you want." One such post on X had been viewed about 5.18 million times and received 40,000 likes as of July 15. According to the Election Management Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Public Offices Election Act does not mandate the presentation of identification, either on election day or for early voting. Individuals who visit polling stations for advance voting can receive a ballot after a receptionist checks the information -- such as name, date of birth and address -- on the declaration form on the back of the voter card sent to their home against the electoral roll. However, some eligible voters may forget to bring these cards to the polling station. In such cases, voters can receive a ballot if their personal information such as their name matches that on the electoral roll. If one has already voted, that information is promptly reflected in the electoral register, preventing the same person from getting another ballot. Those without voting rights will also not receive a ballot because their names are not on the voters' list. Therefore, claims like "one can vote multiple times" or "those without rights can vote" are incorrect. Despite this, human errors leading to double-voting due to insufficient checks of the electoral roll have occurred. On July 9 in the city of Kitakyushu, a double-voting case occurred due to a staff error during advance voting for the upper house election. Preventing impersonators from voting One post on social media claimed, "Since there's no ID check, impersonation is possible." While the Public Offices Election Act does not require people to present IDs, it is prohibited to vote while impersonating someone else. The internal affairs ministry issues notifications to municipalities when national elections take place to encourage identity verification to prevent imposters from voting. Based on these notifications, municipal election management committees verify people's identities, if necessary, using documents like driver's licenses or My Number national ID cards. The election management committee in the suburban Tokyo city of Musashino requests photo IDs when necessary to prevent double-voting and impersonation. When checking the declaration form against the electoral register, election officials also look for any suspicious signs displayed by visitors and, if needed, conduct additional verification through verbal confirmation or rechecking the information on the form. A representative confidently stated about the measures taken, "We look to see if they can recite their personal information smoothly and whether there is anything suspicious in their expression." Election system based on doctrine of innate goodness "The Japanese election system is based on the doctrine of innate goodness, and the Public Offices Election Act only states 'compare with the electoral roll' (for identity verification)," said Hayato Kojima, who heads the election system practice research association and has nearly 40 years of election management experience. "Since voter cards are enclosed in one mailing for all household members, there are instances where someone mistakenly brings a family member's card," Kojima added. Usually, voters realize their mistake, self-report and either return home to retrieve their own card or fill out a designated form to be checked against the roll and vote. What happens if a relative attempts to impersonate a voter by bringing that person's voter card without a photo ID? People have in fact attempted to vote by disguising themselves as relatives, and they have been accused of fraudulent voting in violation of the Public Offices Election Act. Kojima explained, "When matching the voter card with the electoral register, receptionists will look closely at the voter's face and confirm, 'Are you Mr./Ms. XX?' If the date of birth and apparent age are vastly different, or if they cannot state their birthdate, the person usually flees." If someone attempts to impersonate a voter, officials contact the police on the spot. Kojima warned, "It violates the Public Offices Election Act, and that will ruin their life." On social media, there are calls for mandatory ID checks to prevent fraudulent voting. However, "Requiring IDs would delay the process, making it difficult for the majority of legitimate voters to cast their ballots smoothly. Even if mandatory, fraudulent voting cannot be prevented if IDs are counterfeited," Kojima stated. "Japan's election system is world-class, and its proper execution without mandatory ID checks is a testament to the national character. I hope people are not swayed by false narratives and will go to the polls and cast their votes for their chosen candidates." (Japanese original by Moe Yamamoto, Digital News Group)
Japan Times
25-06-2025
- Japan Times
Some functions of Japan's My Number card now available on iPhones
Japan on Tuesday started a service that allows some functions of the My Number personal identification card to be mounted on Apple's iPhones. Through biometric authentication, iPhone users can now log in to the Mynaportal website for My Number-related administrative tasks and obtain copies of residential and other administrative certificates at convenience stores. The My Number card has functions to confirm the holder's basic personal data, including the name and date of birth, and to serve as a digital certificate of the holder. Smartphones running Google's Android operating system can already support the digital certificate function, while iPhones support both functions. On Tuesday, digital transformation minister Masaaki Taira visited a convenience store in Tokyo and demonstrated how to obtain a copy of his residential certificate. He held his smartphone above the multifunctional photocopier, after verifying his identity using facial recognition on his smartphone. "I was able to obtain (the certificate) smoothly," Taira told reporters. The Digital Agency plans to gradually expand the smartphone-compatible functions of the card, including the ability to serve as a health insurance card.
24-06-2025
- Business
Some Functions of My Number Card Now Available on iPhones
News from Japan Society Jun 24, 2025 18:28 (JST) Tokyo, June 24 (Jiji Press)--Japan on Tuesday started a service that allows some functions of the My Number personal identification card to be mounted on Apple Inc.'s iPhones. Through biometric authentication, iPhone users can now log in to the Mynaportal website for My Number-related administrative tasks and obtain copies of residential and other administrative certificates at convenience stores. The My Number card has functions to confirm the holder's basic personal data, including the name and date of birth, and to serve as a digital certificate of the holder. Smartphones running Google's Android operating system can already support the digital certificate function, while iPhones support both functions. On Tuesday, digital transformation minister Masaaki Taira visited a convenience store in Tokyo and demonstrated how to obtain a copy of his residential certificate. He held his smartphone above the multifunctional photocopier, after verifying his identity using facial recognition on his smartphone. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Japan Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan to require IC chip ID verification for online bank accounts in 2027
Japan will require banks and credit card companies to use IC chip-based identity verification for non-face-to-face account openings starting in April 2027, under a revised rule aimed at curbing fraud, the National Police Agency (NPA) said Thursday. The change to the enforcement of the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds will make it mandatory for financial institutions to confirm customers' identities via IC chips embedded in My Number identity cards or driver's licenses. Submitting images or photocopies of ID documents — currently allowed in online or mail-based applications — will be prohibited due to the growing difficulty of detecting forgeries, the agency said. The new rule is designed to prevent fraudulent accounts — often used in schemes known as special fraud, which includes bank transfer scams and telephone banking fraud — from being opened under stolen identities. Under the existing framework, financial institutions are obligated to verify a customer's identity when opening an account. In online settings, this has typically involved sending images of ID documents via smartphone or mailing photocopies — methods increasingly vulnerable to advanced counterfeiting techniques. The revised regulations designate IC chip scanning as the default method of digital verification. For those without a My Number card or driver's license, alternative documentation such as original copies of residency certificates or tax documents — which are harder to falsify — can still be submitted by mail. Authorities have set the implementation date two years out to allow sufficient time for system upgrades on the part of financial service providers. The NPA published the draft revision in February and received 83 public comments. It is also considering requiring the use of IC chip data for in-person identity checks in the future. Translated by The Japan Times
Yomiuri Shimbun
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's LDP Mulls ¥20,000 Cash Handout Per Person, with ¥40,000 for Low-Income Households, Children
The Yomiuri Shimbun Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office on Friday. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday instructed senior Liberal Democratic Party members to consider incorporating a provision of a ¥20,000 cash handout per person in the party's campaign pledges for the House of Councillors election, as part of measures to combat rising prices. Ishiba, who is also president of the LDP, said that another ¥20,000 will be added on top of that per child or adult in resident tax-exempt households, bringing the envisaged cash benefits to ¥40,000 for them. Ishiba also instructed senior party members to use individual bank accounts linked to My Number identification cards in order to swiftly distribute the cash handouts, as well as reduce the administrative burden on local governments. 'This is not a pork-barrel measure, but rather cash payments prioritized for those who are truly in need,' Ishiba said to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office. The budget required for the handouts would be 'roughly estimated to be in the mid-¥3 trillion range,' Ishiba said. The portion of tax revenue that exceeded projections is expected to be used as a source of payments, but Ishiba only said: 'We won't rely on deficit-covering government bonds. We will make decisions with the priority of definitely not worsening the fiscal situation.' Referring to the reduction of consumption tax proposed by opposition parties, Ishiba said, 'It will benefit high-income earners, so it is not appropriate.' The LDP had previously sought a ¥40,000 cash handout per person, but the Finance Ministry argued that it would be difficult to secure sufficient funds from tax revenue that exceeded projections. After Ishiba and party executives discussed the matter Friday, the LDP decided on setting ¥20,000 per person as the base amount for the envisaged handouts.
