The three ruling parties will try to revise the proportional representation system for House of Councilors elections by having voters cast ballots for candidates instead of political parties, party sources said.
Senior officials of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Conservative Party and New Komeito said the ruling bloc aims to submit a bill to amend the Public Offices Election Law to the upcoming extraordinary Diet session. They seek to change the system in time for the next Upper House election scheduled for July 2001.
An election is held for the 252-member Upper House every three years, selecting half of the members, who serve six-year terms. Of the 126 seats, 50 are elected through proportional representation and the other 76 in multiple-seat constituencies throughout Japan.