Special votes are a type of vote that allows registered voters to cast their vote on a predetermined day before election day if they are unable to vote at their voting station on election day. Special votes are used in various situations, such as when a voter is outside of their electorate, not on the electoral roll, ill or infirm, in hospital, overseas, or unable to travel to their voting station due to physical infirmity, disability, or pregnancy. In some cases, special votes can be cast at special polling places set up in hospitals, maternity homes, and rest homes.

Special votes are no different from ordinary votes, except that the person voting must sign a declaration form. Special votes can be returned up to 10 days after election day and must be physically counted in the electorate they were cast for. The official results are declared after the special votes are counted, which means that the makeup of Parliament may slightly change depending on the results of the special votes.

Special votes are used in various countries, such as New Zealand and South Africa. In New Zealand, special votes are also known as special declaration votes and can be made by anyone who is unable to cast an ordinary vote because they are unable to visit a polling place in their own electorate or are not on the electoral roll. In South Africa, special votes allow a registered voter who cant vote at their voting station on election day to apply to vote on a predetermined day before election day.