Legal Definitions - general election

A general election is a regularly scheduled electoral event where voters choose individuals to fill most or all of the elected positions within a particular government or political body. These elections are typically held at fixed intervals, ensuring a comprehensive review and renewal of leadership across numerous offices simultaneously. They are distinct from "special elections," which occur outside these regular cycles, usually to fill a single vacant position.

• Example 1: In the United Kingdom, a general election is held to elect all 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons. By law, these elections must occur at least every five years, though they can be called earlier under certain circumstances.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates a general election because it is a nationwide event occurring at a regular interval (at least every five years) and aims to fill all elected positions in the primary legislative body, rather than just a few. The outcome determines the composition of the entire national government.

• Example 2: The Australian state of New South Wales holds a general election every four years on the fourth Saturday in March. During this election, voters cast ballots for all members of the Legislative Assembly and half the members of the Legislative Council.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates a general election at a sub-national level. It takes place at a fixed, regular interval (every four years) and involves voters selecting representatives for the vast majority of seats in both houses of the state legislature, thereby determining the composition of the state government.