An upcoming bill for reducing the number of electoral constituencies in Japan is meeting with intense resistance from opposition parties. The bill, likely to be discussed in the next parliamentary sitting, is aimed at streamlining the electoral procedure and reducing the overall costs. However, opponents claim this bill will severely impact the representation of rural areas and marginalize citizens in those regions.

In Japan, electoral reform has been a subject of intense discussion for years. Possible changes can greatly affect the political landscape, particularly for rural areas which are already experiencing population decline. Many citizens also believe such changes could further decrease their political leverage. Therefore, any change in electoral districts is a highly sensitive issue, spelling public scrutiny and extensive media coverage.

Much like Japan, both the U.S. and EU have complicated battles over re-districting and electoral reforms. Battles around gerrymandering, the representation of rural areas versus urban centers, and other related issues are common, leading to stiff resistance due to fears of political marginalization.