Should permanent foreign residents have the right to vote in local elections in their country of residence?

Sunday 24th January, 06:00 AM JST

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39999 at 01:07 PM JST - 10th February

Duty of paying tax and voting rights to local/ national election should not be discussed on the same ground. Because paying tax means the same as fee for the public services all the residents enjoys and shared. On the contrary, voting rights is to control and manage the governing of the nation. If an residents seek to participate the governing, they need to be the nationals to be truly responsible for the fate of his/ her own nation. I see no reason of giving voting rights to someone who keeps nationality of other country, means she/ he must primarily be responsible for its own country, not where they resides now.
cleo at 01:29 PM JST - 10th February

voting rights is to control and manage the governing of the nation

You're talking about voting rights at the national level, and I agree with you; the governing of the nation is the prerogative of those who are nationals of the country in question.

At the local level, though, things are completely different. Choosing the head of the local BoE and the design of the local public school uniform, deciding what time and how often the bin men should call, opening times of the public library or whether there should be a subsidised bus pass for local old folk, etc etc isn't going to affect the 'governing of the nation' one jot.
39999 at 03:33 PM JST - 10th February

Just imagine one very small village where only elderly people live. One day so many non-nationals (or the bunch of one particular nation) gathered to this village after the government grant local voting rights. 1,000 votes is enough to become the village head and what will happen if such non-nationals exceed 1,000? Anyone can establish an enclave. And what will happen if this enclave pledges to one particular nation? Cannot grant local voting rights without preparing for the worst case scenario. And in Japan, freedom of speech and choice of residents are granted for any nationals as long as they obey the local rules and laws.
cleo at 04:16 PM JST - 10th February

39999 -

And the advantage to 'one particular nation' of establishing an enclave in a very small village full of old folk would be....?

Stopping the subsidised bus service? Why?

If the aim of the 'enclave' was to put paranoia pills in the water supply, that job seems to have already been done for them.....
39999 at 04:52 PM JST - 10th February

I said we are not prepared for the worst case scenario, that means terrorists group. Do not laugh, still a possible worst case in this far east. We do not have anti-espionage law, the current government was accusing LDP and deny this idea when it's discussed. Or simple patriotic behaviour is always denied by some permanent residents already. You are free to recommend anything to us but as long as you keep your original nationality, I can't say yes to such sweet talks without preparing for the worst cases, ultimately you are always free to return to your mother country, we will always be here and responsible for the mess.
cleo at 06:24 PM JST - 10th February

the worst case scenario, that means terrorists group. Do not laugh, still a possible worst case

You mean like terrorists releasing sarin gas in the underground?

Running around elementary schools stabbing children?

Ploughing a motor vehicle into crowds of people in a pedestrian precinct?

ultimately you are always free to return to your mother country

Me personally, yes, so long as I don't mind leaving my life and family behind. What about the third- and fourth-generation Koreans, who to all intents and purposes are Japanese? Born here, raised here, Japan is their motherland. Telling folk who were born here, whose parents and grandparents were born here, that they're free to go 'back' to North Korea is on a par with telling African Americans they're free to go 'back' to an Africa they've never known. That's not my idea of 'responsible'.

we will always be here and responsible for the mess.

Glad you see that it is a mess. :-)
bellmary at 06:38 PM JST - 10th February

Last Henoko,Okinawa election result gave a clear and unquestionable "Proof" that a small local village politics can indeed affect nation's security / defense issue.
parapara2010 at 04:40 AM JST - 11th February

Of course, those who are decent "permanent foreign residents" who contribute to the Japanese society are welcome to stay and if they really like to become part of Japan, then they can apply naturalization.
jtsj7 at 08:12 AM JST - 11th February

I believe Japan need to convert “Special PR admission” to Japan nationality. There is a historical reason for people to have the admission, but it had been over 60 years since it had started and it is time to discontinue / simplify it.

As a step, Japanese government needs to provide those people Japanese nationality. Those people become dual nationality upon the event, and in two years, they need to declare which nationality to select, which is the same rule as any multi citizenship person who has Japanese nationality. If the person prefers not to be Japanese but want to stay in Japan, the person can get regular PR admission. People who declares as Japanese citizen will receive voting right of course. Regular PR admission people should proactively naturalize to Japan to get a voting right.

While the person is in Japan, even if the person has dual citizenship, the person is treated solely as Japanese. If the person acts for the benefit of the other nationality he/she belongs while in Japan, he/she can be prosecuted as Japanese.
victoria3188 at 09:28 AM JST - 11th February

We have freedom to leave the country where we are not happy except communist countries. In the US, Australia and Canada, PR is not given the right for local election for national security reason.

PR has no obligation to fight for the country in war time. Some EU countries do not issue PR visa. Most of Asian countries are not allowed dual citizenship. Because they are not immigrant country.

I heard that Korean schools in Japan subsidied money-tax by Japanese government are teaching Anti-Japan probagand. what a joke!

Being citizen in the country means you must fight for the country in war time. Dual citizenship is dangerous for national secutiry reason because Japan is surrounded by Anti-Japan countries which citizens live in Japan as PR. I understand Japan's situation.
cleo at 12:25 PM JST - 11th February

I understand Japan's situation.

You understand Japan's constitution then, and Article 9. So what's all this rubbish about Japanese nationals having the obligation to fight for the country in war time?
39999 at 01:02 PM JST - 11th February

Cleo>

Did you know that the Article 9. is not purely agreed and arranged by all the Japanese? And the Japanese do have right to deffend for it when she is attacked.
cleo at 01:06 PM JST - 11th February

39999 -

If you don't agree with the constitution and you are a Japanese citizen, you have every right to campaign for change. But until that change comes, it's still the constitution.

And a 'right' is not an 'obligation'.
victoria3188 at 10:17 PM JST - 11th February

cleo, You are right. 39999 just simply mixed the word. Be tolerant please.

A Japanese citizen has obligation to fight to deffend Japan when she is attacked. I think 39999 used the word, 'right' probably meant that every nation has right to deffend herself. National security is very very important, as you know. It is like society need police and a person needs medical doctors. Surrounded by Anti-Japan countries, Japan must be cautious for its national security. My Japanese friend told me that they has no law to arrest spies because the then opposition parties were strongly against that. It is unbelieavable! How naive Japanese people are!! Cleo, do not pick my mistakes please!!
39999 at 10:48 PM JST - 11th February

Nope, I meant that the Constitution Article.9 does not limit her defense power. Plus as victoria3188 said so, every human have the defense right. It is clear and so understood in our Diet.