Chigasaki Children's Election 2026 to be Held Alongside the Mayoral Election on November 1st! Recruitment for Experience Events and Committee Members Begins

Cast a vote if you are 17 or under on the same day as the Chigasaki Mayoral Election!

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, the same day as the Chigasaki Mayoral Election, the 'Chigasaki Children's Election' will be held for children aged 17 and under. Aimed at citizenship education, the 'voting rights' for this children's election are granted to children living in Chigasaki City, from 1st-grade elementary students up to 17-year-olds. On the day of the election, children can cast a vote for the same candidates as in the actual mayoral election at 'Children's Election Polling Stations' set up at several locations in the city (to be determined), such as shopping centers and cafes, as well as online.

4 years since the inaugural event. The 2nd iteration in Chigasaki, the 'origin' of a nationwide movement!

The 'Chigasaki Children's Election' is organized by the 'Chigasaki Kodomo Senkyo Executive Committee,' formed by volunteer citizens. The inaugural 'Children's Election' was held during the Chigasaki Mayoral Election on Sunday, October 30, 2022, gathering a total of 566 votes through 11 polling stations in the city and an online voting system.

Feedback from participating children included comments like, 'I will definitely vote when I become an adult' and 'I was happy because I used to think it was unfair that only adults could vote.' Furthermore, from children who deepened their learning about the town and society through preliminary workshops, signs of burgeoning civic awareness were heard: 'I used to think Chigasaki was just a town I lived in, but after the children's election, it became something important to me, and I started wanting to make it better.'

The initiative gained widespread attention after being heavily covered by media outlets such as television and newspapers. It subsequently received prestigious awards, including the Good Design Gold Award, the Kids Design Award Prime Minister's Award, and the Manifest Award Grand Prize. Responding to inquiries from all over the country, the 'National Children's Election Executive Committee,' formed primarily by members from Chigasaki, provided organizational support. As of May 2026, the event has been realized in 20 regions nationwide.

Four years since the first event, the second 'Chigasaki Children's Election' will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2026, to coincide with the Chigasaki Mayoral Election following the expiration of the current mayor's term.

With the decision to hold the event, recruitment has begun for participants of the 'Children's Election Experience Events' (held in June and July) and 15 'Children's Election Committee' members (3rd-grade elementary students to 17-year-olds) who will be responsible for running the children's election.

A more extensive, deeper, and realistic experience for more children. A 4-month program leading up to election day.

In the 'Chigasaki Children's Election 2026', learning through the process leading up to the day is considered more important than the act of voting itself. A program for children, divided into three steps, will start in June, approximately four months before election day.

Step 1: Children's Election Experience Event (Held in June-July, open participation, free)
In June and July, the 'Children's Election Experience Event' will be held twice with identical content. Participants will learn about the children's election initiative and the basics of democracy. They will also watch videos of candidates answering children's questions from the children's election four years ago and experience actual voting. Individual questions will also be answered to ensure children and parents can participate in the various programs and voting without anxiety.
Concurrently with the experience events, recruitment will be held for 15 'Children's Election Committee' members (3rd-grade elementary students to 17-year-olds) who will learn about the town alongside adult executive members and take charge of running the children's election. The committee members will be finalized in August.

Step 2: Children's Manifesto Program (Held in August-September, for Children's Election Committee members, free)
The 'Children's Manifesto Program' will be conducted in August and September for the Children's Election Committee members.
This is a three-part program where children will encounter both the good aspects and the challenges of the town, take action themselves, and envision how they want their town to be. Local activists tackling issues such as the 'environment,' 'disaster prevention,' and 'food and agriculture' in Chigasaki will be invited as guest speakers. In the final session, the children will create a 'Children's Manifesto' that compiles their 'wishes' and 'proposals for the future (vision)' for their town. The 'Children's Manifesto' is scheduled to be presented to the candidates in the subsequent 'Children's Voting Program' to receive their feedback comments.

* The 'Children's Manifesto' created through the children's election is not a specific policy pledge like those used in adult elections (which are backed by budgets). Rather, based on Article 3 of the Basic Act on Children, it is a compilation of the 'wishes' and 'proposals for the future (vision)' that children have for their local community.
* Article 3, Item 3 of the Basic Act on Children states, 'Opportunities shall be secured for all children, according to their age and degree of development, to express their opinions on all matters directly affecting them and to participate in diverse social activities.'