The elections had limited suffrage, with only male citizens 25 years of age and over, who had paid 15 Japanese Yen or more in national taxes, and who had been resident in their prefecture for at least a year, qualified to vote. The number of eligible voters who met this requirement was 450,872 people out of a total Japanese population of 39,933,478 (1.13%). The high tax requirement meant that voter roles were heavily weighed towards rural landlords and urban entrepreneurs.
Elections had restricted suffrage, permitting only male citizens aged 25 or above who paid at least 15 Japanese Yen in national taxes and lived in their prefecture for a year to vote. The total number of eligible voters meeting these criteria was 450,872 out of Japan's population of 39,933,478 (1.13%). The high tax requirement skewed the voter roles towards rural landowners and urban businesspeople.