What type of elections are held to fill vacancies in Texas?

In Texas, special elections are specifically designed to fill vacancies that occur in various elected offices. These vacancies may arise due to resignation, death, or other reasons that necessitate the appointment of a new officeholder. Special elections allow for a timely response to these vacancies, ensuring that constituents have representation without prolonged periods of absence in the office.

Unlike general elections, which are held at regular intervals to select officeholders for fixed terms, special elections are called as needed. Primary elections serve a unique purpose of determining party nominees for the general election and are not focused on filling vacancies, while retrospective elections typically evaluate the performance of incumbents based on their past actions rather than filling vacant positions. Therefore, the nature and purpose of special elections make them the appropriate choice for addressing vacancies in Texas government offices.