A by-election is a special election held to fill a vacant seat in a legislative body (such as a Parliament or House of Representatives) that arises between general elections. This vacancy may occur due to a member's resignation, death, disqualification, or other reasons that make the incumbent unable to continue in office. Key points about by-elections:
- They are held only in the specific electorate or district where the vacancy has occurred.
- Only voters enrolled in that electorate can vote in the by-election.
- By-elections do not involve a general vote for all seats, just the one vacant seat.
- The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the new representative for that electorate.
- By-elections are important as they can change the political makeup of the legislative body if a seat changes party hands.
- Sometimes by-elections are not held if the vacancy arises close to a scheduled general election.
By-elections are also known as "special elections" in countries like the United States and the Philippines, and "bypolls" in India. The rules and procedures for by-elections can vary by country and electoral system, but their primary function is to ensure continuous representation without waiting for the next scheduled general election. For example, in New Zealand, a by- election is held if an electorate MP resigns or dies, and it is conducted with a voting period of about two weeks exclusively for that electorate. The Prime Minister announces the date, and the Governor-General formally directs the Chief Electoral Officer to run the by-election. Only those enrolled in that specific electorate can vote, and the candidate who wins becomes the new member of Parliament for that seat. By-elections won by a different party from the previous MP can impact the proportionality of Parliament but do not change list seats that parties are entitled to.
