Special Elections - Why Are They So Special?
In June of 2022, iVoterGuide analyzed candidates in a South Texas congressional election—a contest that caused a nationwide stir.
It was the first time a Republican had a chance to win that area in over 150 years. And she did win! Only 265 votes secured victory for the “Conservative”-rated candidate (in iVoterGuide’s evaluation) and avoided a runoff with a candidate rated “Leans Liberal.”
That was the Special Election for Texas Congressional District 34, won by Mayra Flores.
Special elections truly are special, and there are several reasons iVoterGuide covers them. And with only a few votes separating the two major parties in Congress and several statehouses, you need to know about them—because they impact your life and your nation!
A Special Principle
Special elections happen when something unexpected occurs: Retirement or death of an incumbent. Maybe a scandal leading to resignation. Or appointment to another office. There are several circumstances that can trigger a special election. But have you thought about the underlying principle behind these elections?
Representative government is a hallmark of our nation. When a vacancy occurs, especially in a lawmaking body like Congress or a state legislature, it must be filled for the remainder of that officeholder’s term. Otherwise, those constituents won’t have a voice in the laws that govern them.
Special elections maintain that principle by giving us—the voters—a say in who will represent us until the next regular election. Even when a vacancy is temporarily filled by appointment, a special election often follows.
Special Opportunities
Special elections provide some unique opportunities not afforded by regular elections:
- No incumbent. Any open seat can be an exciting opportunity for fresh blood. But special elections are open seats which contain an additional hallmark: A sudden opening that can shake up the political scene because of low voter turnout.
- Low voter turnout. In the Texas election I mentioned earlier, turnout for the special election was four-and-a-half times lower than in the General Election. Wow! When turnout is so low, every vote counts even more. And informed iVoterGuide users have a bigger impact! Plus, if the special election results in a runoff, the runoff election amplifies the opportunity for impact due to even lower voter turnout!
- Flipping the seat, or the balance of power. Lower turnout can give voters whose ideals are usually in the minority a greater voice, potentially flipping a seat from blue to red, or vice versa. It depends on who shows up! And in a competitive state legislature, flipping one seat could even mean flipping the balance of power.
Special Interest
Voter engagement in special elections is low, but interest groups—who may or may not share your values—see the potential to influence a few voters with greater effect.
As we are able, iVoterGuide will continue to cover special elections—so voters aren’t dependent on information from the candidates or interest groups. With your support, we equip voters with the facts about each candidate and how they will likely govern if elected.
You can make a difference. Remember the special election I mentioned at the beginning of this article? Our data shows that iVoterGuide users in that district greatly exceeded the number of votes the Conservative-rated candidate needed to win.
Inspired to Act
Now that you know the significance of these often-overlooked elections, I hope you are inspired to be alert to your next opportunity to vote in one! If you are signed up to receive emails from us, then we’ll let you know when one is coming up. If not, you can sign up for our emails and we’ll make sure you know when it is time to vote!
In addition, pray for godly candidates to be willing to step up. Don’t forget to tell others about iVoterGuide so they can receive this information as well!
*If you would like us to cover more elections like these in the future, consider giving to expand our efforts! As you’ve read, your contribution will increase your impact.
