Legal Definitions - Special Election

A Special Election is an election held at an unscheduled time, outside of the regular cycle of general elections. These elections are typically called to address specific, urgent matters that cannot wait for the next scheduled election date.

Common reasons for holding a special election include:

• Filling a vacancy in an elected office that occurs unexpectedly (e.g., due to resignation, death, or removal).
• Allowing voters to decide on a specific ballot measure, such as a bond issue, a constitutional amendment, or a local ordinance.
• Conducting a recall election, where citizens vote on whether to remove an elected official from office before their term expires.

Here are some examples:

• Filling a Senate Vacancy: Imagine a U.S. Senator from a particular state unexpectedly passes away two years into their six-year term. State law dictates that while the governor may appoint an interim replacement, a special election must be held within a few months to allow voters to choose who will serve the remainder of the term. This election would be a special election because it occurs specifically to fill that sudden vacancy, not during a regularly scheduled election cycle.

• Approving a School Bond: A county government proposes a significant bond measure to fund the construction of several new public schools. To avoid delaying the much-needed school construction for over a year until the next scheduled general election, the county decides to hold a special election solely for voters to approve or reject this bond initiative. This allows the critical funding decision to be made promptly, outside of the usual election calendar.

• Mayoral Recall: After a series of controversial decisions and a successful public petition campaign, residents of a large city successfully trigger a recall election for their sitting mayor. This election is specifically called to allow voters to decide whether the mayor should be removed from office before the end of their term. This event constitutes a special election because it is initiated by citizens for a specific purpose and takes place independently of the standard election schedule.