Japanese citizens headed to polling stations across the nation on Sunday, February 8, 2026, to cast their votes in a pivotal general election that will determine the composition of the House of Representatives. The electoral contest features over 1,200 candidates vying for control of the 465-seat lower chamber of parliament, with the political stability of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration hanging in the balance.
The central question dominating this electoral battle is whether the ruling coalition—comprising the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP)—can maintain its parliamentary majority. Securing at least 233 seats would provide the government with greater legislative stability and facilitate smoother budget approvals. Even when facing opposition in the upper house, where the coalition lacks majority control, approved budgets can automatically take effect after certain procedural requirements are met.
However, the ruling bloc’s minority status in the upper chamber remains unchanged regardless of the lower house outcome, meaning proposed legislation will still necessitate cross-party negotiations and opposition support. Prime Minister Takaichi has publicly committed to resigning if her coalition fails to achieve majority status, placing significant personal stakes on the election results.
The political landscape has been reshaped by the emergence of the Centrist Reform Alliance, a new opposition bloc formed through an alliance between the Constitutional Democratic Party and Komeito, which previously collaborated with the LDP. The electoral system allocates 289 seats through single-member districts and 176 through proportional representation across 11 regional blocs.
Voting concluded at 8:00 PM local time, though some polling stations closed earlier due to severe weather conditions including heavy snowfall. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications anticipates complete vote counting by approximately noon on Monday, with the nation awaiting results that will shape Japan’s political trajectory for the coming years.