By-election

A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between general elections. Usually this occurs when the incumbent has died or resigned, but it may also occur when the incumbent becomes ineligible to continue in office, for example because of a recall or a criminal conviction sufficiently serious. Historically, members of some parliaments were required to seek re-election upon being appointed to a ministerial post. The subsequent by-elections were termed ministerial by-elections.

See also

• list of democracy and elections-related topics
• List of Irish by-elections
• list of UK by-elections
• list of Scottish Parliamentary by-elections
• New Zealand by-elections