Referendum Law Revision Bill Passes Upper House Panel

2026-07-22

The Upper House Constitution Review Committee on the 22nd passed a bill to revise the referendum law that sets out procedures for constitutional amendment, with support from a majority of members from the Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Innovation Party and others. It is likely to pass the Upper House plenary session on the 24th and become law.

Expanded publicity and voting arrangements

The revised bill includes measures to allow publicity for constitutional amendment proposals to be carried not only on AM radio but also on FM radio. In line with the Public Offices Election Act, it would also ease requirements for appointing vote scrutineers. In addition, if ballot boxes cannot be transported to remote islands because of bad weather or other reasons, vote counting would be allowed on site.

Wide support and opposition for four-party bill

The bill was submitted to the lower house by four parties: the Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Innovation Party, the Democratic Party for the People and the Sanseito party. In the Upper House Constitution Review Committee, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito also voted in favor, while the Japanese Communist Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi opposed it. Internet ad restrictions during referendums were not included in the revised bill, but the committee on the 22nd adopted a supplementary resolution calling for necessary legislative measures.

Secondary capital bill also enters deliberation

Also on the same day, a related bill on the 'secondary capital' concept began deliberations in the Upper House Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs and Special Committee on Regional Issues. The bill would establish a secondary capital to serve as a backup for political and economic functions in the event of a major disaster in Tokyo, and the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party aim to have it enacted on the 24th.

As the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party do not hold a majority in the Upper House, they are seeking the cooperation of independent lawmakers and others. In the lower house, Team Mirai supported the bill, while the Center Reform Alliance, the Democratic Party for the People, the Sanseito party and others opposed it.

The current Diet session was extended through the 25th. The two government bills still pending are revisions to the Vaccination Act and the Act on Improving Energy Consumption Performance of Buildings. Among lawmakers' bills, along with the referendum law revision bill and the secondary capital bill, revisions to the Act on Support for Children Requiring Medical Care and the Architects Act are also expected to be voted on in the plenary session on the 24th.

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