Voters, puzzled as to why Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is calling an election now and unimpressed by opposition alternatives, may shun the Dec. 14 election in record numbers.
That could help Abe's ruling coalition win the Lower House election but also erode any claim of a new, strong mandate for his economic revival plan.
A survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun published Sunday showed that 65 percent of voters are interested in the election, down 15 points from the 2012 campaign that brought Abe back to power — with record low turnout of about 59 percent.