Latest news with #MotohikoSaito
The Mainichi
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Ballots written in pencil altered? Baseless fraud myth persists in Japan elections
TOKYO -- Unfounded rumors persist around election voting and counting in Japan, with claims like "ballots are rewritten" and "spies manipulate results at ballot-counting stations." These myths of intentional election fraud are not only circulating online but are also being discussed in public spaces. 'Someone important at the prefectural office' rewrites votes? At a demonstration in Tokyo in late June advocating for the exclusion of foreigners, a young man with a microphone was seen urging participants, "Please go vote, but make sure to bring a ballpoint pen. There are Chinese spies infiltrating polling stations." The notion that pencils are provided at polling stations so votes can be erased later has been circulating for years. Despite a lack of evidence, some voters bring their own writing utensils. On the day before the Hyogo gubernatorial election in November 2024, a 20-year-old second-year university student attending a speech by candidate Motohiko Saito in Kobe mentioned to a friend, "I heard that if you write Saito's name with the pencil at the polling station, it will be changed to the name of his opponent." Believing this, she said she brought a ballpoint pen with her for early voting. When this Mainichi Shimbun reporter approached her, she explained that she had seen a YouTube video claiming "someone" wanting Saito to lose was erasing his name from ballots. She said that it was her first time voting and said, "They only provide pencils so they can rewrite the votes later, right?" When asked who might alter the votes, she replied, "I'm not sure, maybe someone in a high position at the prefectural office?" Double locks and public scrutiny Japan has multilayered measures to prevent election fraud in both national and local contests. Voters who arrive at polling stations first verify that ballot boxes are empty. Observers selected from the public are present, and at least two locks secure the boxes after voting. The keys are placed in separate envelopes and transported to ballot-counting stations, as stipulated by the Public Offices Election Act and its enforcement order. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, there are no restrictions on writing instruments used for voting, and ballpoint pens are permissible. However, Yupo Corp., which manufactures the voting paper, notes that the paper contains plastic, making it particularly suitable for pencils. Additionally, some municipalities advise against using ballpoint pens as the writing can be smudged. Fraud at counting stations is also difficult. The ballot-counting process is open to the public, with observers present. Representatives from political camps and the media, eager for early results, closely monitor the process. Local government staff involved in counting are prohibited from bringing writing instruments. A member of a prefectural election management committee stated, "Many of the staff working on holidays are focused on completing the task 'as quickly and accurately as possible' so they can go home." Past incidents of fraud That said, there have been instances of actual fraud by election staff. In the 2014 House of Representatives election, a discrepancy between the number of voters and actual votes in Sendai led to staff inflating the numbers of blank and take-home ballots. Similarly, in the 2013 House of Councillors election in Takamatsu, staff falsely reported votes for a specific proportional representation candidate as "zero" to cover up a discrepancy. In the 2017 lower house election, staff reported "blank ballots" in Koka, Shiga Prefecture, after a shortfall in ballots compared to voters emerged. An uncounted ballot box was later found, but a staffer took home about 400 ballots and burned them. In all these cases, the motive for the fraud was to cover up counting errors. Criminal cases were built against those responsible on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act and the destruction of seals. However, there have been no known cases of fraud intended to ensure a specific candidate's victory, such as rewriting votes. Despite this, rumors of intentional vote tampering have persisted for years. In late June, following the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, the Election Administration Commission posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, "There are false posts on social media claiming 'fraud is occurring at counting stations.' Counting operations are open to the public, and no fraud occurs." It is unusual for an election management committee to release such information. Nonetheless, replies to the social media post continue, with one asking, "Why do we have to write with a pencil?" while another demanding, "Prove your innocence." (Japanese original by Shota Harumashi, Tokyo City News Department)
Asahi Shimbun
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Case against Hyogo governor now in the hands of prosecutors
KOBE--Hyogo prefectural police have sent papers to prosecutors concerning last year's Hyogo gubernatorial election and suspected violations of the Public Offices Election Law, according to investigative sources. Papers referred to prosecutors are on the case against Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito and the president of a public relations company based in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture. However, Hyogo police made no formal announcement about the action nor recommend to prosecutors whether indictments were warranted. The latest move followed a criminal complaint filed against Saito and the company president. It alleges that Saito paid the PR firm about 700,000 yen ($4,800) to handle part of his campaign last autumn. The Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office and Hyogo prefectural police in February mounted a search of the offices of public relations company merchu inc. into possible violations of the Public Offices Election Law. Prosecutors will now decide if indictments are warranted against Saito and the merchu president. Saito met with reporters on June 20 and repeated his claims that no laws were broken during his gubernatorial campaign. The merchu president has not spoken with the media since the allegations first surfaced.
The Mainichi
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Hyogo Gov. referred to prosecutors over election law violation in west Japan pref.
KOBE -- Hyogo Prefectural Police on June 20 sent documents on Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito to prosecutors on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act by paying a PR company in return for campaign services during last fall's gubernatorial election, sources close to the matter have revealed to the Mainichi Shimbun. Police also sent prosecutors papers on the 33-year-old female president of the PR company Merchu, who allegedly received payment from Saito's side, on suspicion of receiving bribes under the same law. Authorities have not disclosed their views on how the two should be prosecuted. The Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office will carefully examine whether the two bear criminal responsibility. Shortly after the 47-year-old governor's reelection in November 2024, the PR company president posted online that she had been "entrusted with overall public relations" among other things. Saito's campaign paid the PR company a total of 715,000 yen (about $4,900), and in December 2024, parties including a university professor filed a criminal complaint against the two, claiming the payment constituted compensation for election campaign activities. Saito's side has explained that the payment was for the production of campaign posters and flyers, which are permitted under the election law, and has completely denied any illegality or bribery. (Japanese original by Yuta Shibayama and Yuria Kiyama, Kobe Bureau)
Japan Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Hyogo governor referred to prosecutors over alleged vote-buying
Police referred Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito to prosecutors Friday on suspicion of vote-buying over his alleged payments to a public relations company for campaign activities in the prefecture's gubernatorial election last November, people familiar with the investigation said. The prefectural police sent papers on Saito, 47, to prosecutors after a criminal complaint was filed last December over the governor's alleged payments in violation of the public offices election law. The police also sent papers on the 33-year-old president of the PR firm. Saito has also been referred to prosecutors for an alleged breach of trust related to a victory parade for local baseball teams. The governor has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Speaking to reporters in Kobe on Friday, Saito said, "There is no change in my recognition that I've acted in compliance with laws, including the public offices election law." The PR company president has not responded to requests for comment. Saito is suspected of paying ¥715,000 to the PR firm on Nov. 4 last year for work on his re-election campaign, which included planning a PR strategy and managing the campaign's social media presence. The PR company president said in an online post on Nov. 20, 2024, three days after the election, that her company had been tasked with overall PR activities by Saito's team. The governor later refuted her claim during a news conference. In December, a lawyer and a university professor filed a criminal complaint against Saito over the alleged payments. After the PR firm refused to cooperate adequately with requests for voluntary questioning and document submissions, investigators seized evidence, including a smartphone, during a raid on the company's office in February. Saito first took office as Hyogo governor in August 2021. After being ousted from the post by the prefectural assembly last September over harassment allegations, he won re-election two months later.
20-06-2025
- Politics
Hyogo Governor Referred to Prosecutors over Alleged Vote Buying
News from Japan Society Jun 20, 2025 17:56 (JST) Kobe, June 20 (Jiji Press)--Police referred Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito to prosecutors Friday on suspicion of vote buying over his alleged payments to a public relations company for campaign activities in the western Japan prefecture's gubernatorial election last November, people familiar with the investigation said. The prefectural police sent papers on Saito, 47, to prosecutors after a criminal complaint was filed last December over the governor's alleged payments that violate the public offices election law. The police also sent papers on the 33-year-old president of the PR firm. Saito has also been referred to prosecutors for an alleged breach of trust related to a victory parade for local professional baseball teams. The governor has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Speaking to reporters in Kobe, the capital of Hyogo, on Friday, Saito said, "There is no change in my recognition that I've acted in compliance with laws, including the public offices election law." The PR company president has not responded to requests for comments. Saito is suspected of paying 715,000 yen to the PR firm on Nov. 4 last year for work on his re-election campaign, which included planning a PR strategy and managing the campaign's social media presence. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
