A bypoll election, also known as a by-election, special election, or bye-election, is an election held to fill a vacant office between general elections. It is a necessary enabler in a democracy like India, where political verdicts are people-driven and unpredictability is the norm. Bypolls are conducted in various countries, including India, the United States, the Philippines, Ireland, and Pakistan.
In India, bypolls are held when there is a vacancy in a Lok Sabha seat (lower house of Parliament) or an assembly seat (state legislative assembly). The vacancy can occur due to the death or resignation of a candidate. Bypolls can be significant if a minority party needs to gain one or more seats to gain official party status or the balance of power in a minority or coalition situation.
During a bypoll, voting takes place in the respective constituency, and only people enrolled in that constituency can vote for their preferred candidate. The candidate with the most votes becomes the elected member of Parliament or the state legislative assembly for that constituency. The results of a bypoll can change the proportionality of the Parliament or the number of seats a party has in the Parliament.
