Overview

• About 21 percent of eligible voters—roughly 21.45 million people—cast ballots early, surpassing the previous record of 19.61 million in 2022.
• Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. nationwide and will remain open until 8 p.m., with vote tabulation beginning immediately after polls close.
• Candidates have embraced nightly live video streams on social media after street speeches were barred after 8 p.m. under the Public Office Election Law.
• Single-seat districts in Wakayama and Shiga each feature a record seven candidates, highlighting intensified competition in those races.
• Election-law authorities have referred Hyogo’s governor and a PR firm executive for alleged vote-buying; a Saitama candidate’s video was also removed after discriminatory remarks.