✶ Japan · Calendar · 選挙日程
Japan has no fixed date for its lower-house election. The Prime Minister dissolves the House when it suits, and the Constitution allows 40 days to polling day. In January 2026 Sanae Takaichi took 16.
Governor elections are from MIC's list of results. Japan's 47 governors serve four-year terms and their elections fall on different dates, except those that coincide with the unified local elections.
Step by step · 総選挙
Every general election since 1947 but one (1976, at the end of the term) followed a dissolution. These are the steps, with the dates of the February 2026 election.
解散 · 23 Jan 2026
The Emperor dissolves the House of Representatives on the Cabinet's advice and approval (Art. 7(3)); the decision is in practice the Cabinet's, led by the Prime Minister. If the House passes a motion of no confidence, the Cabinet must resign within ten days unless the House is dissolved (Art. 69). Four of the 27 dissolutions since 1947 came that way, the last in 1993. The House of Councillors closes at the same time (Art. 54).
解散の日から四十日以内
A general election must be held within 40 days of the dissolution (Constitution Art. 54; 公職選挙法 Art. 31(3)). In 2009 Tarō Asō used all 40; in 2026 Sanae Takaichi took 16, the shortest ever.
公示 · 27 Jan 2026
The Emperor proclaims the election (Art. 7(4)). Polling day must be announced at least 12 days ahead (公職選挙法 Art. 31(4)). Parties and candidates file their district candidacies and party lists on the day of the announcement (Art. 86).
選挙運動 · 27 Jan 2026 – 7 Feb 2026
Campaigning is legal only from filing until the day before polling (Art. 129). Door-to-door canvassing is banned for everyone (Art. 138). Since 2013 anyone may campaign on websites and social media (Art. 142-3), but campaign e-mail is limited to candidates and parties (Art. 142-4).
期日前投票 · 28 Jan 2026 – 7 Feb 2026
From the day after the announcement to the day before polling, voters who expect to be at work, travelling or otherwise unable to vote on the day cast a final ballot at an early-voting station in their municipality (Art. 48-2), usually 8:30 am to 8 pm.
投票日 · 8 Feb 2026
Polling stations open from 7 am to 8 pm, with local exceptions (Art. 40). Voters write a candidate's name on the district ballot and a party's name on the list ballot by hand (自書式), and are handed a third ballot for the Supreme Court review.
開票 · 8 Feb 2026 – 9 Feb 2026
Ballots are counted on the day the boxes arrive or the next day (Art. 65); in practice that night. In 2026 MIC posted hourly counts of the list vote from 10 pm until the next morning.
特別会 · 首班指名 · 18 Feb 2026
The Diet must be convened within 30 days of the election (Art. 54). The Cabinet resigns when it first meets (Art. 70), and the Diet designates the Prime Minister before any other business; if the two houses disagree, the lower house prevails (Art. 67). In 2026 the House of Councillors needed a runoff.
Calculator
Try it · Constitution Art. 54 · 公職選挙法 Art. 31
Pick a dissolution date, and optionally a polling day. The law sets the outer limits; the Cabinet picks the dates inside them.
16 days from dissolution to polling day.
Dissolution + 40 days (Art. 54).
At least 12 days before polling day (公職選挙法 Art. 31(4)). Candidates file that day.
From the day after the announcement to the day before polling (Art. 48-2).
Within 30 days of polling day (Art. 54). The Diet then designates the Prime Minister.
What happened Announced 27 Jan 2026, polling day 8 Feb 2026, special session 18 Feb 2026. Dissolved at the opening of the ordinary session; 16 days to polling day, the shortest ever.
27 dissolutions since 1948 · days to polling day
Grey bars followed a vote of no confidence (Art. 69). The dashed line is the 40-day limit.
Fixed dates
House of Councillors · 参議院
The upper house cannot be dissolved. Half its members are elected every three years, within the 30 days before the outgoing half's term ends; if that window overlaps a session of the upper house or the 23 days after it closes, the election moves to 24–30 days after the close (公職選挙法 Art. 32). Polling day is announced at least 17 days ahead. The 2022 class's term ends on 25 July 2028.
By-elections · 補欠選挙
Vacancies in either house are filled on fixed Sundays: one arising between 16 September and 15 March on the fourth Sunday of the following April, one arising between 16 March and 15 September on the fourth Sunday of October (Art. 33-2). The next possible dates are 25 Apr 2027 and 24 Oct 2027. No national by-election is held for a vacancy that arises close to the end of the term (Art. 33-2(6)).
Unified local elections · 統一地方選挙
Every four years since 1947 a special act gathers local elections onto two Sundays. The 2027 bill covers terms ending between 1 March and 31 May, about 1,000 elections: prefectures and designated cities vote on 11 April, other cities, wards, towns and villages on 25 April. The cabinet approved it on 16 October 2026.
The lower house's term
Members are elected for four years, cut short by a dissolution (Constitution Art. 45). If the term does run out, the election falls in the 30 days before it ends, with the same exception for Diet sessions as the upper house (公職選挙法 Art. 31(1)–(2)). The current House was elected on 8 February 2026.