[THREAD]

Are you also wondering how YOU could use an exploit in Japanese elections?

Well, I have ONE WEIRD TRICK with which YOU* could have WON 9 SEATS in Shinjuku's assembly election in 2019.

*If you're the Japanese Communist Party.

(1/8) https://twitter.com/writerofscratch/status/1253481679370571776

2. One issue Japanese parties can have in assembly elections is that, under the single non-transferrable vote (SNTV) system, your candidates aren't just competing with other parties, but also with each other. https://twitter.com/robfahey/status/1120133749721550848?s=19

3. In the example above, the JCP messed up by running a candidate too many, which meant the vote count was spread further across the several candidates and as a result they lost 2 seats instead of gaining 1!

4. As Rob pointed out, this could have been prevented if they had fielded one less candidate.

But what if I told you, the JCP could have fielded 9 candidates and got all 9 seats with an extraordinary campaign strategy?

What if... the JCP ran 9 candidates with 沢田 as last name?

5. If all candidates have the same last name and the party urges voters to write ONLY that last name on their ballot, the JCP's votes would be split evenly across all 9 JCP candidates. https://twitter.com/writerofscratch/status/1165695109859553281?s=19

6. According to my calculations, the JCP candidates got a total vote count of approximately 17753. If we divide this evenly across the candidates they all get 1972 votes.

And tada! All 9 JCP candidates end up winning as they land on a shared 22nd place. https://go2senkyo.com/local/senkyo/18046

7. But, if the JCP were to field 10 candidates named 沢田, their 1775.3 votes per person would net them a shared 32nd place in an election with 38 seats and a coin toss would have to decide which "lucky" 7 JCP candidates would get seats.

8. In conclusion:

1. Field 9 candidates named 沢田
2. Tell voters to vote for 沢田
3.???
4. PROFIT

But whatever you do, don't become greedy by fielding 10 candidates named 沢田!

Some side-notes:

・You can also use this trick in the House of Councillors election in multi-member districts.

・If your opponent also has a candidate named 沢田 it will probably mess the entire plan up.

・Maybe a rarer surname like 副島 would work better.