A general election is an election in which all members of a given political body are up for election. The term is generally used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections .

The term originates in the United Kingdom general elections for the House of Commons.

List of general elections

• Australian federal elections
• Canadian federal elections
• Irish general elections
• Japan general election
• Malaysian general election
• Spanish general elections
• United Kingdom general elections

---

A general election is also a term used in opposition to primary election. In the United States, primary elections serve to narrow down a field of candidates, and general elections actually elect candidates to offices. The general election is usually held on Election Day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

See also

• List of democracy and elections-related topics