Upon application of a person who is in a special relationship to a city, town or village, the concerned city, town or village may, through the resolution of its assembly, grant such person the right to vote at the election of the assemblymen or the chief of such city, town or village, regardless of the residential qualificiation as prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

Any person who has been granted a right to vote in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall have the right to vote at the elections of the assemblymen or the chief of the metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture which include such city, town or village.

Any person who has, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2, been granted the right to vote in a city, town or village other than the city, town or village in which he has his residence shall, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, not have the right to vote at the elections of the assemblymen or the chief of an ordinary local public body in the city, town or village in which he has his residence.

The period of six months contemplated inparagraph 1 shall not be interrupted by the creation, dissolution, union or division of a city, town or village, or by an alteration of the boundary thereof.

Any citizen of Japan who is thirty years of age or over shall be eligible for being elected to the office of governor of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture.

Any citizen of Japan who is twenty-five years of age or over shall be eligible for being elected to the office of mayor of a city, town or village.

The ages contemplated in the preceding three paragraphs shall be computed as on the date of election.

A public procurator, a police officer or a revenue officer while in office shall be ineligible for being elected at elections.

The area of an electoral district mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be the same as that of a county or city.

In a case where the population in the area contemplated in the preceding paragraph is conspicuously small, several areas may be united by bylaws to create one electoral district.

If, in a case where the creation of a district contemplated in paragraph 2 has newly been effected during the term of office of the members of the assembly of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture, and the number of the assemblymen assigned to the electoral district to which such district has heretofore belonged is less than the number of the assemblymen of such electoral districts contemplated in the provisions of paragraph 2 as are concerned with such creation of a district, the area of the district which has newly been created shall, in so far as the application of provisions of paragraph 2 is concerned, be deemed, until after the next general election, not to have been created.

Such matters as are necessary for the cases contemplated in the preceding two paragraphs shall be provided for by ordinances.

A city, town or village may, in respect to the election of the members of its assembly, create electoral districts by its bylaw;provided, however, that in respect to the city contemplated in Article 155 paragraph 2, the electoral district of a ward shall be the electoral district.

The electoral district to which an elector of assemblymen of the assembly of a city, town or village belongs shall be determined by his residence. With respect to any person who, being a person who has the right to vote in accordance with the provisions of Article 18 paragraph 2, and has not his residence within the area of the city, town or village, the electoral administration committee of the city, town or village concerned shall, upon application of the person himself or ex cathedra if he fails to make an application, determine the electoral district to which he belongs.

The number of the assemblymen of the assembly of an ordinary local public body to be elected in the respective electoral districts shall be provided for in bylaws in proportion to population.

The election of the assemblymen of an ordinary local public body and the election of the chief of an ordinary local public body in consequence of the expiration of the term of office shall not be held before thirtieth day prior to the day on which the term of office of these persons is to expire.

The election of the assemblymen of a city town or village or its chief shall not be held until, after a notice contemplated in Article 25, paragraph 4 has been given;provided that the rule shall not apply in case where a notice has not been given till the term contempleted in the same paragraph is expired.

With respect to the day of election, such electoral administration committee as administer the affairs relating to such election shall, on or before the thirtieth day prior to the day of election in the case of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture or on or before twentieth day prior to the day of election in the case of a city town or village, give public notice thereof.

In case where the elections of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture and the elections of a city, town or village are held at the, same time in accordance with the provisions of Article 25, paragraph 3, the electoral administration committee of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture shall give public notice as to the day of election on or before the thirtieth day prior to the same day.

The electoral administration committee of a city, town or village shall, on or before the sixtieth day prior to the day on which an election is to be held in cases where such election is to be held in consequence of the expiration of the term of office of the assemblymen of the city, town or village or of its chief, or within three days from the day on which an event in which the holding of an election is necessary has occurred in cases where such elections to be held in consequence of the events other than the expiration of the term of office of the assemblymen of the city, town or village or of its chief, except in a case where a report is to be made in accordance with the provisions of Article 59, paragraph 2 or Article 61, paragraph 3, file notice to that effect with the electoral administration committee of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture. The same shall apply when the reason mentioned in Article 62, paragraph 1 arises in respect of a person who is elected at the election of the assembly of a city, town or village or in a case where a vacancy in the members of an assembly of a city, town or village has occurred and it is unable to replace the same in accordance with the provisions of Article 56 or Article 63 paragraph 2.

The electoral administration committee of a metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture may, on the basis of the application contemplated in the provisions of the preceding paragraph or of a report contemplated in the provisions of Article 59, paragraph 2 or Article 61, paragraph 3, cause the election of the city, town or village concerned to be held at the same time as the election of the metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture.

The electoral administration committee of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture shall, within three days from the day on which the application contemplated in provisions of paragraph 2 or a report contemplated in the provisions of Article 59, paragraph 2 or Article 61, paragraph 3 has been filed or made, given notice to the electoral administration committee of the city, town or village concerned in respect to whether the election of the city, town or village shall, on the basis of such application or report, be caused to be held at the same time as the election of the metropolis, district or urban or rural district.

In a case where simultaneous elections are to be held under the provisions of paragraph 1 or paragraph 3 excepting those which are specially provided for in this Law, the provisions concerning polling and vote-opening shall be applied throughout the respective electoral districts. In a case where simultaneous elections are to be held in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 and the districts of the election meetings are one and the same, the same shall apply in respect of the provisions concerning election meetings.

The necessary matters concerning the preceding Article shall be prescribed in Cabinet Orders.

The electoral administration committee of a city, town or village shall prepare the supplementary electors'register on September 15 every year, and shall, for fifteen days from November 5, throw the supplementary electors'register open to inspection of the persons concerned at any place designated by the committee.

The committee shall, on or before the third day prior to the day on which the supplementary electors'register begins to be thrown open to inspection, give public notice of the place for inspection.

The supplementary electors'register shall be entered the persons who, being entitled to vote at the elections of assemblymen of an ordinary local public body and its chiefs, cannot be entered in the electors'register of the members of the House of Representatives.

The supplementary electors'register shall contain the full name, address, date of birth, sex distinction, etc. of each elector.

The age of an elector shall be computed as of the date of the entry in the electors'register contemplated in the preceding paragraph.

In the case contemplated in the preceding paragraph, the committee shall, within twenty days from the day on which the objection has been filed against it, determine the same. In a case where a determination that objection is right has been made, the committee shall forthwith effect an amendment in the supplementary electors'register, notify the effect to the alledged person and persons concerned and publish the said effect. In a case where a determination that objection is not right has been made, the committee shall notify the effect to the alleged person.

A person who is dissatisfied with the determination contemplated in the preceding paragraph may appeal to the Local Court within seven days from the day upon which such determination has been made, and any person who is dissatisfied with the decision may bring an action in the Supreme Court, though inappealable.

A supplementary electors'register shall become conclusive on December twentieth.

A supplementary electors'register shall be kept intact until December 19 of the following year;provided, however, that the committee shall forthwith effect on amendment in the supplementary electors'register, if such is required to be effected therein upon the final decision having been given, and notify the effect.

If it is necessary to do so on account of an act of God, an emergency, etc., another electors'register shall be prepared.

Any matter which is necessary relative to the electors'register contemplated in the preceding paragraph shall be provided for by Ordinances.

The superintendent of the poll shall take charge of the affairs relating to the polling.

The superintendent of the poll shall be removed from office in case when he has lost his right of voting.

The persons of whom notices have been filed in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph (in cases where a candidate has died or has withdrawn from his candidacy, the person of whom such candidate has filed notice shall herein and hereinafter be excluded) shall, if such persons are not more than ten, forthwith be caused to assume the office of inspector of the poll;if more than ten, shall be decided ten inspectors of the poll by a mutual vote of the persons of whom notices have been filed.

The mutual election perscribed in the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be effected by means of the vote, and such person as have polled the majority of votes shall be elected to the office of inspector of the poll, in the case of an equality of the votes polled, the superintendent of the poll shall determine the elected person by the drawing of lots.

The mutual election prescribed in the provisions of paragraph 2 shall be effected on the day prior to the day of election.

With respect to the place, the date and the hour at which the mutual election prescribed in the provisions of paragraph 2 to be held, the superintendent of the poll shall beforehand give notice thereof.

If a candidate for the office has died or has withdrawn from his candidacy, the inspector of the poll of whom such candidate has filed notice shall vacate his office.

If the inspectors of the poll as prescribed in the provisions of paragraph 2 are less than three or have come to be less than three, or if the inspectors of the poll attending have not come to be three at the time when it is for the polling station to open or have thereafter come to be less than three, the superintendent of the poll shall, from among the persons whose names have been entered in the abstracts of the registration-slips of electors in the electoral division concerned, choose so many inspectors of the poll as to make up three in all, shall forthwith give notice thereof to the persons themselves and shall cause them to be present at the poll.

An inspector of the poll shall not resign his office without just reason.

In a case where, in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 paragraph 3, the election of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture and the election of a city, town or village are to be held at the same time, the form of a ballot paper shall be prescribed by the electoral administration committee of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture.

In a case where, in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 paragraph 1 or 3, the elections are to be held at the same time, the columns in which the names of the candidates are to be entered shall be set up with a division, in respect to respective election, in a ballot paper.

In a case where, in accordance with the provisions of Article 25, paragraph 1 or 3, the elections are held at the same time, an elector shall, at the polling station, write down in his own hand the name of one candidate and no more in the column of a ballot paper in which the name of a candidate is to be entered for respective election and deposit it in a ballot-box.

With respect to the voting of a person who is unable to write the name of a candidate by himself owing to the physical defects, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 37, Article 41 and the preceding two paragraphs, special provisions may be made by Cabinet Ordinance.

The name of an elector shall not be entered in a ballot paper.

If an elector against whom a decision contemplated in the preceding paragraph has been made, raises objection thereto, the superintendent of the poll shall cause him to cast a ballot provisionally.

With respect to the ballot contemplated in the preceding paragraph, an elector shall be caused to put the same in an envelope, seal the envelope up, write his full name thereon in his own hand and deposit the same in a ballot-box.

The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply to an elector whose vote has been challenged by an inspector of the poll.

In case the election of the metropolis, district, urban or rural prefecture and the election of the city, town or village are to be held simultaneously in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 paragraph 3, the date of polling as provided for in the preceding paragraph shall, notwithstanding the provisions of the same paragraph, be determined by the electoral administration committee of the metropolis, district, urban or rural prefecture.

If, in a case where, in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 paragraph 3, the election of a metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture, and the election of a city, town or village are held at the same time, the reasons contemplated in the preceding paragraph has occurred, the electoral administration committee of metropolis, district, urban or rural prefecture shall, in conformity to the provisions of the same paragraph, case another poll to be taken.

In a case where an event contemplated in paragraph 1 has occurred in respect to the election of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture and in a case contemplated in the last preceding paragraph, the electoral administration committee of a city, town or village shall, through the presiding officer of election in charge of the election of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture, file notice to that effect with the electoral administration committee of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture.

The superintendent for the counting of the votes shall take charge of the affairs relating to the counting of the votes.

The superintendent for the country of the votes shall vacate his office in case when he has lost his right of voting.

Such vote contemplated in the provisions of Article 32, paragraph 2 as falls under item 1 or 2 of the preceding paragraph shall be void;such writing-in in the columns of that vote in which the names of candidates for respective election shall be entered as falls under item 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 of the preceding paragraph shall be void.

The superintendent for the counting of the votes shall, upon mixing up the votes from every polling station, inspect each of the votes with the inspectors for the counting of the votes.

In a case where the investigation of the votes has come to an end, the superintendent for the counting of the votes shall forthwith make a return thereof to the presiding officer of election.

The presiding officer of election shall take charge of the affairs relating to the polling.

The presiding officer of election shall vacate his office in case when he has lost his right of voting.

In the case contemplated in the preceding paragraph, the office of superintendent for the counting of the votes or of inspector for the counting of the votes shall be assumed by the presiding officer of election or inspector of election, and the particulars relating to the counting of the votes may be put down together in the record of election.

In a case contemplated in the preceding paragraph, notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, the presiding officer of election shall count the total number of votes obtained by each candidate as a result of investigation of the ballots.

If, in a case where another election has been held in consequence of the invalidation of a part of an election, the returns prescribed in the provisions of Article 42 paragraph 3 have been received, the presiding officer of election shall, in conformity to the provisions of paragraph 1, further investigate the same and calculate the total number of votes obtained by each candidate together with such returns relating to the other part of the election.

The record of election shall, during the term of office of the assemblymen of the ordinary local public body or its chief, be preserved, together with such documents as relate to a return prescribed in the provisions of Article 42 paragraph 3, by the electoral administrative committee which shall administer the affairs of such election as is concerned with such documents.

In those case contemplated in Article 48, the electoral administrative committee which is in charge of the affairs of such election related to the side election shall differentiate the validity and invalidity of the votes and together with the polling minutes and election meeting minutes, preserve them in custody during the term of office of the members of the assembly of the said local public body or its chief.

It, in a case where, in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 paragraph 3, the election of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture and the election of a city, town or village are to be held at the same time, notwithstanding the preceding two paragraphs, the electoral administration committee of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture shall preserve the documents concerned.

If a person whose name has been entered in the electors'register purports to cause another person to become a candidate, he may, upon obtaining the consent of that person and within the period contemplated in the preceding paragraph, file notice of recommendation of that person.

If, in a case where the number of the candidates who have filed notice or of whom notice has been filed within the period contemplated in the preceding two paragraphs exceeds, in respect to the election of the assemblymen to be elected at the election, the full number of the election, in respect to the candidates concerning the election of the chief of an ordinary local public body, two, any of the candidates dies or before the second day prior to the day of election, any person shall be filed in conformity to the preceding two paragraphs till the second day prior to the day of election.

If there exist the electoral districts in the election of the members of the assembly of an ordinary local public body, any person who has become a candidate in one electoral district shall not file notice of candidacy or consent the recommendation of candidacy in other electoral district.

A candidate shall not withdraw from his candidacy unless notice thereof is filed with the presiding officer of election.

If such notices as are prescribed in the provisions of the paragraphs 1 to 3 inclusive and of the preceding paragraph have been filed with him or if the death of a candidate has become known to him, the presiding officer of election shall forthwith give public notice thereof and at the same time shall make a report thereof to the electoral administrative committee which shall administer the affairs relating to such election.

If the number of votes given to a candidate is, with respect to the election of the assemblymen of metropolis, district, urban or rural prefecture or city, less than the amount obtained by dividing the total number of the valid votes by the whole number of the assemblymen within the electoral district concerned (in a case where these is created no electoral district, the full number of the assemblymen) or is, with respect to the election of the mayor of metropolis, district, urban or rural prefecture or city, less than one-tenth of the total number of the valid votes, the subject matter of deposit contemplated in the preceding paragraph shall revert to the metropolis, district, urban or rural prefecture or city concerned.

The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall, in a case where a candidate has withdrawn from his candidacy within ten days prior to the day of election, apply with the necessary modifications, except in a case where the withdrawal from candidacy has been caused by reason that he has ceased to be qualified for being elected.

In a case of the election of the mayor of a town or village, a person who purports to file notice of his candidacy or of notice of recommendation of a candidate shall effect the same under the joint signature of thirty or more electors.

If, in determining the elected person, an equality of votes is found to exist, the presiding officer of election shall, at the election meeting, determine him by the drawing of lots.

If an elected person has declined to accept office, if he has died or if he has ceased to be an elected person by virtue of the provisions of Article 57, an election meeting shall forthwith be held and an elected person shall be determined out of the persons who, notwithstanding their having polled such number of votes as is prescribed in the proviso to paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, have not been elected or who, notwithstanding their having polled such number of votes as is prescribed in paragraph 6 of Article 65, have not been elected.

If, in a case where an event cotemplated in Article 62 paragraph 1, items 5 to 7 inclusive has occurred before the fixed day prescribed in Article 60 paragraph 1, there is a person who has polled such number of votes as is prescribed in the proviso to paragraph 1 of the preceding Article or a person who has polled such number of votes as is applied the provisions of Article 65 paragraph 6 or if, in a case where an event contemplated in Article 62 paragraph 1, items 5 to 7 inclusive has occurred after the fixed day prescribed in Article 60 paragraph 1, there is a person who has polled such number of votes as is applied the provisions of paragraph 2 of the preceding Article or paragraph 6 of Article 65, an election meeting shall forthwith be held, and duly elected persons shall be determined out of such persons.

If, in the cases contemplated in the preceding three paragraphs, a person who, notwithstanding his having polled such number of votes as is prescribed in the proviso to paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, has not been elected or who, notwithstanding his having polled such number of votes as is prescribed in the porviso to paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, has not been elected by virtue of the provisions of paragraph 2 of the preceding Article or Article 65 paragraph 6 has come, after the day of election, to cease to be qualified for being elected, he shall not become an elected person.

If, in a case where the elections are to be held in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 paragraph 1 or 3, an event contemplated in the preceding paragraph has occurred, the part of a ballot relating to such election as is concerned with such event shall not take place.

In a case where no poll has come to be taken, in accordance with the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the presiding officer of election shall, in case of election of metropolis, district or urban or rural prefecture, through the electoral administration committee of a city, town or village, in case of a city, town or village, himself, forthwith give notice to that effect to the superintendent of the poll at the same time as he shall give public notice thereof and make a report of the same to the electoral administrative committee which administers the affairs relating to such election as is concerned with such election.

The superintendent of the poll shall, in a case where he has received a notice contemplated in the preceding paragraph, forthwith give public notice thereof.

In the case contemplated in paragraph 1 or 2, the presiding officer of election shall hold an election meeting within five days from the day of election, and shall declare the candidates to be duly elected.

In the case contemplated in the preceding paragraph, the eligibility of a candidate shall, upon asking for the views of the inspectors of election, be decided by the presiding officer or election.

If there exists no person duly elected, or if the number of the persons elected at the election of the assemblymen of an ordinary local public body is less than the whole number of the assemblymen to be elected thereat, the presiding officer of election shall forthwith give public notice thereof and at the same time shall submit a report thereof to the electoral administrative committee which administers the affairs relating to the election concerned and also, in respect to the election of a city, town or village, to the electoral administration committee of metropolis, district or urban prefecture.

If an elected person fails to file, within a term comtemplated in the preceding paragraph, a notification of his declination to accept office, he shall be deemed to have accepted office.

If an elected person is in office contemplated in Article 92 or Article 141, or has any connection with the ordinary local public body concerned contemplated in Article 142, he shall file notice to the effect that he has declined the office contemplated in Article 92 or Article 141 or that he had not any connection contemplated in Article 142.　If he fails to file the notice within the term contemplated in the paragraph 1, he shall be deemed to decline to accept office.

A government official who has been elected, shall not accept office without having obtained the approval of the superior in charge.

If he fails to file the notice to that effect that he has received the approval of the superior in charge within the term contemplated in paragraph 1, he shall be deemed to decline to accept office.

If, no elected person has come to remain or if, in a case of the election of the assemblymen of an ordinary local public body, the number of the elected persons has come to be less than the whole number of the assemblymen to be elected at that election, the electoral administration committee which administers the affairs relating to the concerned election shall forthwith give public notice thereof.

In the cases contemplated in the preceding two paragraphs, the electoral administration committee which administers the affairs relating to the election concerned shall, in conformity to the following divisions, make a report forthwith to that effect: