Members of the European Parliament (MEP's) are elected by a system of proportional representation.

If a vacancy occurs in a seat held by a member of a registered political party, the Returning Officer for the electoral region would consult the list of candidates submitted by that political party and the person whose name appears highest on that list would be appointed to fill the vacancy.

An election would only be held if the vacancy occurred in a seat held by an independent, individual candidate or, in the case of a party, where the next person on that party's list was not willing or qualified to be elected, to the extent that the list becomes exhausted.