S7·E36 – Village Chief Election: The Traveling Ballot Box

2016-11-25 • ? min

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In October, a somewhat unusual village chief election was held. Following the nuclear accident, many villagers in Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture, were forced to evacuate. To accommodate those scattered across various locations, the ballot box traveled to temporary housing facilities and other sites ahead of the election date. The key issue was whether to lift the evacuation order early and aim for a return to the village. Some voters expressed uncertainty about safety and reluctance to return, while elderly residents expressed concerns about not wanting to see the village come to an end during their lifetime. What were the thoughts of the 5,200 voters reflected in the traveling ballot box?