Unaffiliated voters do not want the ruling Liberal Democratic Party or its coalition partner, New Komeito, to gain seats in July's House of Councilors election, according to a recent Kyodo News poll.
In the telephone survey of 1,000 voters nationwide conducted April 14 and 15 and released Sunday, 35 percent of respondents said they do not support any political party, while 24 percent said they support the LDP.
Of the unaffiliated voters, 48 percent named the LDP and 35 percent New Komeito as parties they least want to gain seats in the July poll. Respondents were allowed to pick up to two parties for that question.
The results indicate it will be difficult for the LDP and New Komeito to garner support from unaffiliated voters without adopting different, vote-winning policies.
Unaffiliated voters accounted for more than 40 percent of respondents in their 20s and 30s. The proportion of unaffiliated voters was higher among women than men.
For the same question, the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan was listed by only 5 percent of unaffiliated voters as the party they least want to gain seats. The Japanese Communist Party was named by 19 percent.
As for the ongoing LDP presidential race, only 30 percent of unaffiliated voters said they expect it will have any effect on the party or its policies, while 63 percent believe it will not make any difference.
Among the unaffiliated voters, 55 percent picked former Health Minister Junichiro Koizumi as the most desirable next prime minister out of four candidates.
Koizumi is one of the four contenders vying to replace unpopular Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, alongside former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, LDP policy chief Shizuka Kamei and Economic Minister Taro Aso.
Hashimoto, who was initially believed to be the front-runner in the race, gained support from only 8 percent of unaffiliated voters.