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.

A precept for a special election for Executive Councilor from Executive Council District No. 1 was approved on November 18 by New Hampshire Governor Margaret Hassan.

The primary election will be held on January 21, 2014 followed by a special general election on March 11, 2014.