Primary definition
Primary, general, municipal, proposition, run-off, or recall election that is not held on a date and time regularly scheduled through statute. A special election may be combined with a scheduled election.
Also known asby-election · extraordinary election · snap election
3 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 9, 2026
— EAC Glossary of TermsView source
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EAC
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Primary, general, municipal, proposition, run-off, or recall election that is not held on a date and time regularly scheduled through statute. A special election may be combined with a scheduled election.
EAC Glossary of Terms · 2024
Cite this term
Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Special Election. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 22, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/special-election
Sources
3 cited · last checked Aug 9, 2026
01
EAC Glossary of Terms
EAC Glossary of Terms
High consensus
02
Electronic Voting Glossary
Electronic Voting Glossary
Disputed
03
NIST Election Glossary
NIST Election Glossary
Multi-source
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