Election and voter mechanisms in Japanese elections

What is it about?

While American and European political scientists have claimed that subnational elections almost always record lower voter turnout than national elections, the case of Japan's municipal elections often record considerably higher turnout than national elections. This book explains this 'turnout twist' by exploring the levels of significance of elections and relative power of votes in national and municipal elections.

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Photo by Tianshu Liu on Unsplash

Photo by Tianshu Liu on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research offers a unique case in global politics that opposes standard views on voter turnout, where municipal elections are in fact higher than national elections. By examining electoral participation in Japan, one can add further depth to the comparative perspectives on broader electoral incentives and institutions within political science.