UPDATE 2 - Japan: Exit polls show ruling bloc winning election

UPDATES WITH EXIT POLLS

TOKYO (AA) – Japanese media exit polls Sunday night showed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s party and its ruling coalition headed to victory in the upper house election.

According to exit polls by Kyodo news agency, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito are projected to secure at least 61 of the 121 seats being contested in the 242-member House of Councillors.

Government data recorded voter turnout at 32.49 percent as of 6 p.m. (0900GMT), with polling stations set to close at 8 p.m.

The LDP and its allies are seeking a majority that would be seen as an endorsement of Abe’s signature economic strategy, known as Abenomics.

The main suspense, however, is whether or not they will win a two-thirds majority that would allow the cabinet to propose changes in the American-written constitution that was adopted after World War II.

During the 18-day official campaigning period that wrapped up Saturday, opposition parties had warned against granting Abe the power to pursue constitutional reform, while the ruling parties pledged to work toward sustainable economic growth amid international uncertainty.

Half of Japan’s upper house -- comprised of 242 members, elected to fixed, six-year terms -- is up for election every three years. Electors vote twice: once for the proportional list and once for prefectural districts.

Sunday’s polls are notable for two more reasons other than the pursuit of a majority.

It is the first election to be held since the voting age was lowered from 20 to18.

It is also the first test case of the alliance for convenience between the main opposition DP and the Japan Communist Party --who have agreed to coordinate their election campaigns so that they don’t split the opposition vote.

The results are expected to be clear by early Monday.