Just a week after being sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Japan, Ishiba Shigeru dissolved the House of Representatives, and called for a general election on October 27th.
This move is seen as a way to benefit from the high approval rating normally seen in the beginning of a premiership. As the ruling LDP struggles through a funds scandal, the party aims to maintain its majority status in the influential lower house.
In this General Election, all 465 seats are up for grabs. Of the 465 seats, 289 of them will be decided by the constituencies of each electoral district, while the remaining 176 seats are allocated through proportional representation.
So, when a voter goes to the polling station, they will have two choices to make: selecting their district representative, and choosing a political party.
Here is a quick guide to how, when, and where to vote for this upcoming general election.
What to bring
Voter notification card
This is normally sent to eligible voters from their local governments. For those that have changed their residence within three months to the date of the election, they are not registered voters thus making them ineligible to vote. However, they can vote in their previous districts.
If you do not have your voter notification card despite having lived in the same residence for over three months, or forgot it, you can bring your ID (driver’s license, My Number Card). The polling station can match your data to their voter list, making you eligible to vote.
How to vote
Once the polling station staff have given you the ballot, head to the voting booth. There, write the name of your preferred candidate from your district, and the preferred party for the proportional representation seat.
When
The official day of the election is on Sunday, October 27th. However, if you are unable to go to the polling station on the day, early voting is open from October 16th to 26th.