Part 3: the vote and the count
After a fierce round of stump speeches, students, assembly members and observers cast mock ballots. Real polling equipment was set up, and in the tension participants put pen to ballot paper.
The result, announced in the assembly chamber with the help of the Adachi Ward Assembly:
Elected mayor (first prize): the Adachi Children's Future Party
"Adachi, a place people want to live: better communication of the ward's services and attractions through social media, support for pilotis construction against flooding, and more permeable paving."
Runner-up: the Future Delivery Party
"Income on top of the minimum: a ward-specific welfare scheme designed to lead to independence, more active employment support, and financial help."
After the prize-giving, remarks from Speaker Tada and comments from Rena Kawasaki, there was open time with the teammates, assembly members and the election commission's mascot who had spent the day together. Every participant received a certificate, and the day closed with people reluctant to leave.
Press coverage is in our stories.
10 photos (swipe to change)
A student organization working on civic education and teenage participation in public life, driven by the gap in who gets opportunities. Our mission: every teenager should get to meet the person they have not yet become. Around forty high school and university students from Tokyo and the three neighbouring prefectures run it. Our programs include the Mock Ward Mayoral Election — held in the ward office and the assembly chamber, taking participants from drafting policy through candidacy to the count — and Osouji-tai, which builds a sense of ownership over shared space through cleaning. More than 1,000 people have now learned how democracy feels from the inside.
For the press: contact@teigenjp.org(please put [PRESS] in the subject line) Press contact and fact sheet
Related: See the project →