UK parliamentary by-elections

E839091

UK parliamentary by-elections are special elections held to fill vacant seats in the House of Commons between general elections in the United Kingdom.

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Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf election type
electoral process
administeredBy returning officer for the constituency
appliesTo single parliamentary constituency
ballotPaperContent names of candidates and party descriptions
ballotType secret ballot
campaignDuration shorter than general election campaigns
canAffect government majority
party balance in the House of Commons
candidateEligibility same as for UK general elections
canFeature independent candidates
minor parties
country United Kingdom
electorate registered voters in the relevant constituency
governedBy UK electoral law NERFINISHED
historicalPredecessor by-elections to the Parliament of Great Britain
by-elections to the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801)
by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
includes by-elections in England
by-elections in Northern Ireland
by-elections in Scotland
by-elections in Wales
language English
legalBasis Parliamentary Elections Act 1868 NERFINISHED
Representation of the People Acts NERFINISHED
legislativeBody House of Commons of the United Kingdom
mediaCoverage often intense when government majority is small
notHeldWhen general election is imminent
occursBetween UK general elections NERFINISHED
oftenUsedFor measuring mid-term public opinion
testing party leadership popularity
overseenBy Electoral Commission (UK) NERFINISHED
purpose fill vacant seats in the House of Commons
relatedConcept UK general elections
casual vacancies in legislatures
recall petitions in the United Kingdom
resultCertification writ returned to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery
resultsAnnouncedBy returning officer at the count
termOfOfficeResult elected MP serves remainder of parliamentary term
timePeriod held throughout each Parliament as needed
triggeredBy death of a sitting MP
disqualification of a sitting MP
elevation of an MP to the House of Lords
resignation of a sitting MP
voiding of an election result
typicalDayOfWeek Thursday
typicalTurnout often lower than at general elections GENERATED
voterEligibility same as for UK general elections
votingSystem first-past-the-post

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Cambridgeshire constituencies usedFor UK parliamentary by-elections
North East Cambridgeshire usedFor UK parliamentary by-elections