Even if you have moved abroad, you can vote in national elections as long as you follow the procedures.
In order to vote, one must have an "overseas voter identification card" and a passport.
There are two ways to obtain an "Overseas Voter ID Card": by applying for it before leaving Japan, or by applying for it after leaving Japan at an overseas diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) with jurisdiction over the place of immigration.
To apply at the consulate-general of Japan in Cebu, submit a notification of residence to the Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu. After at least three months have passed, the applicant submits an "Application for Registration in the Overseas Registry of Voters". This application is then sent to the Board of Elections of the municipality in which the applicant last resided through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and after examination, the applicant is registered on the list of overseas voters and issued an "Overseas Voter Registration Card.
The issued "Overseas Voter ID Card" is sent to the Consulate-General of Japan in Cebu via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the applicant receives it.
Previously, it was only possible to apply at an overseas consulate, but now it is possible to apply for overseas voter registration at the time of notification of moving abroad.
After immigrating to Japan, you will receive an "overseas voter registration card" at an overseas consulate or embassy (you can also submit the card online), which will allow you to vote.
Voting is limited to national elections, but you can vote in electoral districts in addition to proportional representation.
While there is a system in place for voting abroad in national elections, there is no system in place for national review.
The national review is a review of individual justices of the Supreme Court, and is held at the same time as the House of Representatives election.
A lawsuit had been filed claiming that it was unconstitutional that overseas immigrants were not allowed to participate in the national review.
On May 25, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the complainants in this case.
I personally don't think it will have much of an impact on me, as I have never voted x on an individual judge in a national review vote before.
I am certain that the law will be amended in the future, and if that happens, it will be a good thing because it will allow people to vote the same way after immigration as they do in the country.
