Re-election (Football League)
In the context of the English Football League (EFL), re-election was a process that existed prior to the advent of automatic promotion and relegation between the Football League and the leading non-league competition (historically the Football Conference, now the National League). It was a system whereby the clubs finishing in the bottom positions of the Football League's lowest division each season were required to apply for re-election to the League for the following season.
The re-election process involved clubs submitting a written application to the League and then attending an Annual General Meeting (AGM). At the AGM, League member clubs would vote on whether to re-elect the bottom clubs or replace them with clubs from outside the League, typically the leading clubs from the non-league system. These non-league clubs would also be required to formally apply for League membership.
The decision on re-election was based on various factors, including the club's financial stability, stadium facilities, geographical location, historical significance, and future plans. The League clubs essentially judged whether the applying clubs (both current and prospective) were worthy of membership.
The number of clubs requiring re-election varied over time. Initially, it involved just one or two clubs. However, with the expansion of the Football League, up to four clubs were subject to the process in some years.
The re-election system was abolished in 1986-87 with the introduction of automatic promotion and relegation between the Football League Fourth Division and the Football Conference. This change meant that the bottom clubs in the Football League were automatically relegated, and the top clubs from the Conference were automatically promoted, removing the need for the re-election process and providing a more meritocratic pathway for clubs to enter and exit the League. The introduction of automatic promotion and relegation represented a significant shift in the structure and dynamics of English football.