TOKYO, Oct 27 – Voting commenced across Japan on Sunday for a general election, as newly appointed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba seeks a renewed mandate amid heightened scrutiny over the ruling party’s management of political funds.
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), alongside its junior coalition partner, the Komeito party, aims to maintain a majority in the 465-member House of Representatives.
However, media polls indicate that they face significant challenges, Kyodo news agency reported.
In this first general election since 2021, each voter casts two ballots — one for selecting a candidate in a single-seat constituency and another to choose a party for proportional representation.
Final election results are expected by early Monday.
Approximately 1,300 candidates are competing for the 465 seats, with 289 allocated to single-seat districts and 176 through proportional representation.
Ishiba dissolved the lower house on Oct 9, just eight days after assuming office, vowing to restore public trust in politics and pursue key policy initiatives.
The 67-year-old premier has committed to mitigating the adverse effects of inflation on households, strengthening Japan’s defences against security threats from neighbouring countries, and enhancing regional economies and disaster preparedness.
