An election that allows political parties to choose a flag bearer for general election is called

In a democratic political system, political parties must select their candidates before a general election. The internal election conducted within a political party to choose its flag bearer (candidate) for a general election is called a party primary.

During a party primary, registered members of the party vote to determine who will represent the party in the upcoming general election. This process is distinct from other electoral concepts:

• A bye-election is a special election held to fill a vacancy that arises between general elections, not a process for selecting candidates.
• A party convention is a broader gathering of party members to discuss policy, adopt platforms, and make organisational decisions, though in some systems it may also involve candidate selection.
• "Off season" is not a recognised electoral term.

The key distinction is that a party primary is specifically an election within a single party, held before the general election, to determine who carries the party's flag into the general contest.