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au_202
Government and the Law › Elections
What is a by-election in Australia?
- An election held to fill a vacant seat between general elections
- An election held before the scheduled date
- An election for local government positions
- A vote held in the Senate only
Why this is the correct answer
A by-election is held when a seat in Parliament falls vacant between scheduled general elections, for example because a member resigns, dies, or is disqualified. Only that one seat is contested, not the full Parliament, and it is held as soon as practicable after the vacancy arises.