In the United States, what do they call by-election?
Answer Details
In the United States, a by-election is typically called a "special election." A special election is a type of election held outside of the regular election cycle to fill an unexpected vacancy in an elected office, such as a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, or a state or local office. Special elections are usually held when a sitting elected official resigns, dies, or is removed from office before their term is up. The purpose of a special election is to ensure that the affected constituency is represented in the interim until the next regular election cycle.