If Prime Minister Shinzo Abe goes ahead with a plan to dissolve the Lower House and call a snap election next month, it will likely cost taxpayers around ¥60 billion to ¥70 billion — on par with the annual budget revenues of Bhutan.
According to internal affairs ministry data, around ¥61.7 billion to ¥74.6 billion in taxpayer money was used in each of the last six Lower House elections, held between 2000 and 2014. Bhutan's budget revenues in 2016 stood at $640.4 million, according to the CIA World Factbook.
The expenses go toward preparations, including making boards for candidates to put up campaign posters as well as the operation of election administration commissions, according to the ministry.