30代半ばになって
初めて選挙の投票に行ってきました。
I went to vote in an election for the first time in my mid-30s.
自分も結構いい歳になったので
そろそろ行ってみるかなと思いました。
I’m pretty old now, so I thought it was about time to go there.
投票場所が意外と近かったこともよかったです。
I also liked that the voting location was surprisingly close.
目次
準備するもの Things to prepare
投票するときに準備するものは
１つだけです。
There is only one thing you need to prepare when voting.
事前に郵送されてくる選挙のハガキです。
This is an election postcard that will be mailed in advance.
選挙のハガキの中の入場券が必要になります。
You will need the admission ticket included in your election postcard.
これだけで選挙に行くハードルがぐっと下がります。
This alone will greatly lower the hurdles for voting.
用意するものが少なければ少ないほどいいです。
The less you have to prepare, the better.
最小単位の１でした。
It was the smallest unit, 1.
選挙会場ですること What to do at the election venue
実際の投票はとても簡単でした。
The actual voting was very easy.
会場が空いていたので５分くらいで終わりました。
The venue was empty, so it was over in about 5 minutes.
まず、受付の方に入場券を渡します。
First, give your admission ticket to the receptionist.
そしたらチェックされて返されるので
それを次の受付の方に渡します。
It will then be checked and returned to you, so you can pass it on to the next receptionist.
そしたら選挙の投票用紙をもらえるので
そこに立候補者の名前を書いて投票箱に入れます。
You will then receive an election ballot, write the candidate’s name on it and place it in the ballot box.
これで終了と思いきや、実は違います。
You might think this is the end, but it’s actually not.
投票箱に入れた後にもう一枚投票用紙をもらいます。
After placing your ballot in the ballot box, you will receive another ballot.
こちらは比例代表用の紙になるので
立候補者か政党の名前を書いたら投票箱に入れます。
This is a piece of paper for proportional representation, so write the name of the candidate or party and put it in the ballot box.
これで終了です。
That’s it.
終了まであっという間でした。
It wasn’t long until the end.
まさか２回投票するとは思いませんでした。
I never thought I would vote twice.
要注意ポイントです。
This is a point to be careful of.
出口調査もありました There was also an exit poll.
出口でNHKの人に声をかけられました。
At the exit, I was approached by a person from NHK.
出口調査をしているそうです。
Apparently they are doing an exit poll.
たしかに出口。
Definitely an exit.
タッチパッドでちょちょいと入力するだけで終わりました。
All I had to do was make a few inputs on the touchpad.
なんか出口調査ってデジタルとアナログの中間ぐらいなんですね。
Exit polls are somewhere between digital and analog.
ちょっとおもしろいです。
It’s a little interesting.
初めての選挙は意外とあっさりしたものでした。
The first election was surprisingly easy.
これぐらいだったら次回も言ってもいいかもね。
If that’s all there is to it, I might say it next time.
Memo: Proposed improvements to the electoral system
I thought about ways to improve elections and politics.
I think Japan will become even better if this is implemented.
online voting
I think the biggest benefit of online voting is that it increases voter turnout.
It is quite troublesome to go all the way to a polling place just to vote.
If you vote online, you can vote from home or on the go, so I think the turnout will increase.
Additionally, since there is no need to create a separate voting venue, personnel costs can be reduced.
There are at least 10 people at the polling station at all times, including people at the reception desk, people watching the votes, and guides.
And it’s on a day off. You can eliminate working on holidays.
One of the criticisms of online voting is that elderly people cannot use it.
This criticism is wrong.
Even elderly people can use the internet.
When I go to the tax return filing venue, most of the people I see are elderly people, but they are also doing the process online.
Therefore, it is wrong to say that elderly people cannot vote online, and in fact, I feel like it makes fun of elderly people.
presidential system
Currently, Japan’s prime minister is the head of the party that wins the most seats in the vote.
There is no problem in the case of a sufficiently powerful political party or prime minister.
I think Japan today is determined by inertia.
I feel like it has become the current political party by process of elimination because there is no place I actively want to vote for.
The current prime minister is kind to businesses, the elderly, people on welfare, and foreigners.
Because companies provide funding. Elderly people go to vote. If you are kind to welfare recipients and foreigners, you can feel like you worked for less money.
I feel like we are neglecting the working generation, the parenting generation, and the young.
The percentage of people who vote is low, and the members of parliament are elderly, so it feels like they are neglecting young people. And he is tax-increasing glasses.
If we have a presidential system, at least we will have a form of our choice, so there will be less dissatisfaction.
And since the people who vote are both individuals and Japanese people, I think they will conduct politics in our favor.
I will end this article with the hope that this will change.
In the end, this part is written in English, so only people from other countries will read it, my bad :p.
