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The UK Government, the Law and Your Role › Government and Democracy
What is a by-election?
- An election held in a single constituency when a seat becomes vacant between general elections
- An election held to choose members of the House of Lords
- A secondary election run alongside a general election
- An election held to choose local councillors
Why this is the correct answer
A by-election is called when a seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant between general elections, usually due to the death, resignation or disqualification of the sitting MP. Only voters in that specific constituency vote. By-elections are often seen as tests of public opinion and can influence the political fortunes of the government.