Voters in the western Japanese prefecture of Hyogo will head to the polls on November 17 to elect a successor to former governor Saito Motohiko.

Saito lost his seat as Hyogo Governor automatically on Monday, after the prefectural assembly adopted a no-confidence motion against him. Saito was accused of power harassment and other allegations.

The prefectural election authority says official campaigning for the fresh gubernatorial election will start on October 31, with voting and ballot counting scheduled for November 17.

The officials say the election date was selected to avoid coinciding with the Lower House poll, which Japan's incoming Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru announced will be held on October 27. They cited the difficulty of making preparations in time for a double election, such as printing paper ballots.

Saito has expressed his intention to run in the fresh gubernatorial poll. Other prospective candidates include doctor Osawa Yoshikiyo and Inamura Kazumi, a former mayor of the city of Amagasaki.