Nachwahlen

Nachwahlen are elections held to fill a vacant office or to elect a new governing body before the regular election cycle. They are typically triggered when an incumbent resigns, dies, is removed from office, or when a governing institution is dissolved prematurely. In many democratic systems, a Nachwahlen is distinguished from a regular election by its purpose: it seeks only to replace one or a few positions rather than to appoint an entire legislature or executive.

In the German context, a Nachwahl occurs in federal, state or municipal assemblies when a seat becomes vacant. The vacancy is filled by either a special election in the relevant electoral district or by the next candidate on the party list if the vacancy results from a proportional representation system. The process follows the same legal framework as regular elections, including campaign periods, voter registration, and ballot counting, but the scale is limited to the affected district or list.

In the Netherlands, Nachwahlen are used in the bicameral Senate election to replace senators who leave office between federal elections. The replacements are selected by an electoral college rather than a direct vote, reflecting the Senate's role as a revising chamber.

European parliamentary practice also employs special elections when a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) vacates a seat. Those elections usually use the same party list system that determined the regular MEPs. While the mechanics differ across jurisdictions, the core principle remains: a Nachwahl ensures that representation is restored promptly while maintaining the integrity of the electoral mandate.