snap election

snap election (plural snap elections)

1. An election that the ruler or party which is in power calls before the regularly scheduled election time, in order to serve a political purpose.
   • 1998, Myrna O. Carpio & Amparo C. Sunga, My Country and My People 5, →ISBN, page 285:

     Because of all these incidents, President Marcos was forced to call for a presidential election — a snap election — in a short period of time.

   • 2000, Barry Gustafson, His Way: A Biography of Robert Muldoon, →ISBN, page 375:

     The chief whip was in no doubt that had Waring agreed to tear up the letter, stay in the caucus, and attend select committees, Muldoon would have accepted that and not contemplated a snap election.

   • 2006, Daljit Singh & ‎Lorraine Carlos Salazar, Southeast Asian Affairs 2006, →ISBN, page 299:

     By dissolving the Lower House and calling a snap election, Thaksin intended to release the pressure from street protesters led by the PAD who had been demanding his immediate resignation.

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