What is a special election?

A special election is specifically designed to fill a vacancy that occurs when a current officeholder cannot complete their term, whether due to resignation, death, or other reasons. This type of election occurs outside the regular election cycle and is often necessary to ensure that the representation is maintained in government, allowing voters to choose a new representative to fulfill the remaining term.

While the other choices reference types of elections, they do not accurately define what a special election entails. For instance, an election for federal offices only could encompass various regular elections, while elections that occur every four years typically refer to general elections, such as those for the presidency. The option about elections held in odd-numbered years is also not specific to filling vacancies and does not encompass the broader definition of a special election. Thus, defining a special election accurately reflects its role in the electoral process.