2019 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 25-36
This research clarifies how voting support is provided at institutions for people with disabilities. Currently, the trend in Japan is toward deinstitutionalization, but according to the 2018 Annual Report on Government Measures for Persons with Disabilities, approximately 182,000 people still live in such institutions. Research has been limited on how such institutions’ residents participate in the voting process. In October 2017, we administered a questionnaire survey on the 48th General Election of Members of the House of Representatives at all institutions in the Kinki area. The response return rate was 53.9% (179). Findings included the following: (1) Levels of voting support among such institutions vary. (2) The level of voting support and residents’ voting behavior showed a significant relationship. (3) Institutions face the dilemma of political neutrality. (4) Several external factors, such as the environment in which voting is conducted or support from the local government, can influence the institution’s level of support. More support from local governments can reduce the institutions’ dilemma.
