TOKYO, July 10 (UPI) -- Several stores in Japan have reportedly started offering discounts to voters in an effort to increase election turnout among younger people.
The Mainichi Daily News reported Daisuke Yoshikane, a member of a non-political organization that supports youths who want to become politicians, first proposed "operation discount."
About 20 shop associations in Hokkaido, Aichi, Shiga, and Fukuoka prefectures plan to offer special services for those who can show a voting certificate. Another 20 shops around Waseda University in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, have also joined the effort to boost voter turnout in Sunday's Upper House elections.
During the last House of Councilors election in 2001, nationwide 56.44 percent of the electorate voted, according to government officials. However, for those aged 20 to 24, only 31.36 percent cast votes.
