Gov. Mary Fallin called for special elections to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Jerry Ellis. Ellis left two years remaining in his four-year term because state legislators can serve a maximum of 12 years.

The special elections will be held at the same time as the state’s regularly scheduled elections. The primary will be held on June 24, a potential runoff would be August 26, and the general election will take place on November 4.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon called an August 5 special election to fill three vacant seats in the state House of Representatives. The announcement came after being confronted with a lawsuit seeking to compel him to call special elections for four legislative seats. He has yet to set an election date to fill the Senate vacancy.

On February 13 House Republican Mike Moon filed articles of impeachment against Nixon for the delay in filling all four vacancies – a delay he says has denied representation for almost 300,000 Missourians.

A special election for the Massachusetts Fifth Suffolk Representative District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the expulsion of Carlos Tony Henriquez.

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on April 1, 2014. The general election will follow on April 29, 2014.

Henriquez, sentenced to jail last month for assault and battery, was expelled on February 6, 2014, by the House of Representatives.

On November 19, 2013, a special election was held to replace former mayor Bob Filner, who submitted his resignation amid scandal. Because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election is scheduled for February 11, 2014.

Individuals may contribute up to $1,000 to the mayoral candidates for the runoff election. Contributions from committees and corporations are not permitted in city elections.

Seal of San Diego courtesy of Zscout370 on Wikimedia Commons.

Due to inclement weather, Governor Bentley has re-scheduled the special general election for House District 104 in Mobile and the special primary run-off elections for House District 31 covering Elmore and Coosa counties and House District 53 in Birmingham, all scheduled to take place Tuesday, January 28, 2014.

The elections will now be held on February 4, 2014.

Ten Missouri residents filed suit in early January asking a judge to compel Gov. Jay Nixon to call special elections to fill vacant legislative seats. The governor is granted constitutional authority to do so and is required to issue a writ of election without delay.

Perhaps most problematic are the political ramifications of the Democratic governor’s refusal to act. With the vacancies, House Republicans sit just one vote shy of the two-thirds majority needed to override gubernatorial vetoes.

Plaintiffs contend constituents living in the affected districts are being deprived of a representative voice. Nevertheless, Nixon has yet to definitively set special election dates. If he wants the elections to coincide with the April 8 municipal elections, he needs to issue election proclamations by January 17.

Photo of Gov. Jay Nixon courtesy of Bernard Pollack on Wikimedia Commons.

With the appointment of Mel Watt to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the 12th Congressional District seat in North Carolina is vacant. Governor Pat McCrory announced that he will not call a special election for that seat, but instead will wait until the regularly scheduled primary and general elections, on May 6, 2014 and November 4, 2014, respectively.

The governor’s decision has caused much controversy as many North Carolina citizens feel they will be unrepresented in Congress for an unreasonable amount of time. The 12th District encompasses an area from Charlotte through High Point to Greensboro, containing approximately 700,000 citizens.

The North Carolina chapter of the NAACP has threatened a lawsuit against the state if Governor McCrory does not change his mind. McCrory’s decision to leave the seat vacant until the regularly scheduled 2014 elections is partly due to the large expense a special election typically costs taxpayers. Despite the threat of a lawsuit, McCrory has given no indication of calling a special election.

A special election for the Massachusetts Second Suffolk Representative District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of state Representative Eugene L. O’Flaherty. The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on March 4, 2014. The general election will follow on April 1, 2014. O’Flaherty has been appointed as the city of Boston’s corporation counsel by Mayor Martin J. Walsh.

A special election for the Massachusetts Fourth Hampden Representative District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of state Representative Donald F. Humason, Jr.

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on March 4, 2014. The general election will follow on April 1, 2014.

Humason resigned from the House after he was elected to the Senate for the 2nd Hampden-Hampshire District.

Another Virginia special election has been scheduled for January 7, 2014.

The seat in Senate District 6 will be vacated when Sen. Ralph Northam becomes lieutenant governor.

A special election for the Massachusetts Fifth Middlesex Senate District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of state Senator Katherine M. Clark.

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on March 4, 2014. The general election will follow on April 1, 2014.

On December 10, 2013, Clark won a special election for the U.S. House of Representatives seat left vacant by Ed Markey.

Gov. Jerry Brown issued a proclamation declaring a special election for Senate District 23. The primary will be held on March 25, 2014.

If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a special general election will be held June 3, 2014.

The vacancy occurred following the resignation by Bill Emmerson. Senate District 23 includes portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.

One Virginia special election has been scheduled and another may be on the horizon. Governor Bob McDonnell set the special election to replace Del. Onzlee Ware in House District 11 for January 7.

Another election could follow soon after to replace attorney general-elect Mark Herring, currently serving as senator for the 33rd District. Although the State Board of Elections declared Sen. Herring the winner, a recount was requested by his opponent, Sen. Mark Obenshain. The recount is expected to be completed sometime in December.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has called a special election to fill the vacant House District 25 seat.

The special election will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2014.

At present, there are two Republican candidates and no Democrats.