On the Limits of the Reduction in Population Disparity Between Single-Member Election Districts in Japan

• NEMOTO Toshio

  文教大学情報学部

• HOTTA Keisuke

  文教大学情報学部

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 衆議院小選挙区制における一票の重みの格差の限界とその考察

Abstract

Since 1994 the House of Representatives election in Japan has had 300 single-member districts. The maximum population disparity ratio between districts remains 1 to 2.064 in spite of redistricting in 2002. In this paper, we numerically explore the cause of this large population disparity, and show by using a mathematical optimization technique, the disparity ratio can be reduced to only 1 to 1.750 under the present election law. Furthermore, even if the principle of population proportion apportionment is sacrificed, the ratio is reduced only to 1 to 1.722. These results mean that the difference in the weight of one vote in Japan cannot be improved significantly, even if both the apportionment method and the redistricting guidelines are modified.

Journal

• Japanese Journal of Electoral Studies

  Japanese Journal of Electoral Studies 20 136-147,226, 2005

  Japanese Association of Electoral Studies

Details

• CRID: 1390282680279286144
• NII Article ID: 130001554888
• DOI: 10.14854/jaes1986.20.136
• ISSN: 18840353
• ISSN: 09123512
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed