History Main / ElectionDayEpisode

* The short "WesternAnimation/BettyBoop for President" has Betty running for President of the United States.

* ''Manga/HunterXHunter'', by Creator/YoshihiroTogashi, has not only an episode, but an entire StoryArc devoted to the Election of [[spoiler: Chairman of the Hunter's Association.]] It shows off a very interesting power struggle, even the most good and honest characters are forced to retort to morally ambiguous tactics in order to increase their popularity, every movement (even the fights)is calculated to get more voters and support, and the masses are constantly swayed away by the candidates' showy propaganda, pompous speeches and shady promises instead of their actual arguments or background. And, for the most prominent characters, the election ends up being another game to test their skills against each other.

* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': The [[TheMovie cinematic]] [[GrandFinale series finale]] to the ''Our Miss Brooks'' series sees Mr. Conklin compete with school board head Mr. Stone for the newly created post of "Coordinator of Education". [[spoiler: Mr. Conklin withdraws when Mr. Stone, who is independently wealthy, gets the board to set the salary for the position at a mere $500 per year. Meanwhile, in the main plot, Miss Brooks finally manages to achieve her SeriesGoal, marrying Mr. Boynton and living HappilyEverAfter.]]

* ''Series/Avenue5'': In "Let's Play with Matches", the passengers depose Captain Ryan after the previous episode ended with him [[IsThisThingStillOn accidentally telling the whole ship]] all the various problems he's been keeping from them. After a brief attempt to replace him with a series of committees results in anarchy, it's decided to elect a "benevolent dictator" to take total control of the ship. Ultimately, after Nathan (the cannibal who stowed away from a prison space station a few episodes previous) nearly wins through sheer charm, it ends with [[spoiler: one of the candidates drunkenly encourages the passengers to reinstall Ryan on [[InsaneTrollLogic the grounds]] that his previous failures will make him a better leader now. So much to Ryan's own protests, he's put back in charge.]]

* In one episode of [[Series/Batman1966 the Sixties Batman television series]], the Penguin runs for Mayor of Gotham against Incumbent Mayor John Linseed, who in turn runs as the running mate of Batman. [[spoiler: Linseed in turn returns as Mayor following Batman's successful election and subsequent resignation at the end of the episode]].

* The first episode of ''Series/{{Blackadder}} the Third'' ("Dish and Dishonesty") is about a by-election in an obscure rotten borough that Blackadder and the Prince Regent manage to gain control over. The election itself is presented as a parody of modern election coverage, with an appearance by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Hanna Vincent Hanna]] as "his own [[IdenticalGrandfather great-great-great-grandfather]]" reporting out of the window. [[spoiler: Baldrick is elected thanks to shameless ballot stuffing by sole voter and returning officer E. Blackadder.]]

* ''Series/{{Community}}'' had an episode ("Intro to Political Science") in which an emergency election is held for class president for the Vice President's visit. The candidates are two women seeking to promote their issues, two men who enter specifically to antagonize those women, a drug dealer who later drops out to focus on that career, a party animal whose statements consist solely of his catchphrase, a cantankerous old man who's openly antagonistic of the voters, and a guy who was nominated by accident. After a series of death threats, petty arguments, and embarrassing secrets, the winner is eventually chosen: ''[[spoiler: South Park.]]''

* ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide to School Elections'' had Ned running for class president, albeit a bit against his will because he thought it was just a popularity contest. In the end, the school's [[DarkHorseVictory resident runaway weasel is elected]] , but a number of Ned's friends win the "lesser" positions because they were running unopposed, and thus have the real power to enact some of Ned's campaign promises like more time outdoors.

* WesternAnimation/BugsBunny decides to formally oppose Yosemite Sam in a bid for public office in the 1951 short ''WesternAnimation/BallotBoxBunny'', directed by Creator/FrizFreleng. [[spoiler: Neither wins.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'': Marty Green, a butcher shop owner, angry at the fact that his councilman was failing to do things to help the community he represented (such as failing to get funds to repair and repave roads which had massive potholes) and spent more time golfing than working on legislation, decided to oppose him in the upcoming election. [[spoiler: Green won]].
* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' has an election day episode, after the actual class president goes crazy in front of the class. Zim wants to win the election because of the power that it would imply (never mind it's just an school election) and Dib wants to stop him because... well, it's his job, and his school life would suck with Zim in charge. He can't win because he's not popular, so he helps a secondary candidate. [[spoiler: Dib succeeds in making Zim lose, but it turns out that the school just [[MindRape lobotomizes the election's winner]] to do the school's bidding, so in the end [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Zim thanks Dib for saving his life]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'': The episode "The Candidates" involves a fourth-grade election for class president between Vince and Gretchen. [[spoiler: Gretchen wins.]]

* ''Series/LizzieMcGuire'' had an episode where the title character runs for student body president against [[AlphaBitch Claire]] and [[ExtravertedNerd Larry Tudgeman]].

* ''Series/{{Community}}'' had an episode ("Intro to Political Science") in which an emergency election is held for class president for the Vice President's visit. The candidates are two women seeking to promote their issues, two men who enter specifically to antagonize those women, a drug dealer who later drops out to focus on that career, a party animal whose statements consist solely of his CatchPhrase, a cantankerous old man who's openly antagonistic of the voters, and a guy who was nominated by accident. After a series of death threats, petty arguments, and embarrassing secrets, the winner is eventually chosen: ''[[spoiler: South Park.]]''

* ''Fanfic/FamilyGuyFanon'' has a few episodes that focus on this.

* ''Series/SavedbytheBell'' has an election-day episode where Zach displays his manipulative side as usual. He doesn't care about politics until he secretly overhears that there's a free trip for the winner.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'': “Hop Popular”: Tired of Mayor Toadstool’s self-serving style of governing, Hop Pop decides to run against the usually unopposed toad in that year’s election. Amphibian elections involve a series of trials done to determine the candidates’ fitness; after Hop Pop easily wins in the first three trials, a worried Toadstool attempts to bribe him to throw the final challenge, a one-on-one boxing match. Hop Pop refuses his offer and wins the match and earns 100% of the vote in town… only to lose the election due to the fact that he only campaigned in Wartwood, when the entire rest of the population of Frog Valley participated in the election.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' introduces the Clock King in an election episode with Mayor Hamilton (who is the target of Clock King's revenge) searching for re-election.
* "Mr. WesternAnimation/{{Beetlejuice}} Goes To Town" has the Ghost With The Most running for Mayor of the Neitherworld...which he wins. But after letting his win go to his head, Lydia schemes to get him impeached. His last act as Mayor is rather noble--striking the construction of the Lost Souls Highway which would have razed the Roadhouse.

* The short ''"WesternAnimation/BettyBoop for President"'' has Betty running for President of the United States.

* The ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "The Stanchurian Candidate" features Grunkle Stan and Bud Gleeful running for mayor upon the death of the old mayor. Most notably, it was named after ''Film/TheManchurianCandidate'', and like the aforementioned movie, it involves mind control. [[spoiler: It’s later revealed that Bud is a puppet of Gideon and being used to get Gideon out of jail. Stan does technically win, but is disqualified due to his criminal record, resulting in Tyler Cutbiker winning and becoming Mayor for the rest of the series.]]

* The 1947 ''WesternAnimation/{{Popeye}}'' short "Olive Oyl for President" (a remake of Fleischer's "Betty Boop for President") is pretty much a DreamSequence stretched out to animated short subject form.
** Another short had Popeye and Bluto competing in an election which is a dead heat. Olive is the deciding vote, so Popeye and Bluto vie for it.
* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'': Subverted in one episode. Hank Hill was unsatisfied with some laws passed by the Arlen city council and thus decided to run for a seat on the council, but when he went to file for his campaign he was informed that there had been a vacancy and thus won by default.
** Another episode of ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' centered around the 2000 presidential election. Hank Hill faces a crisis of conscience after finding out that his hero, UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush, has a weak handshake.

** One episode ("E Pluribus Wiggum") focused on the Springfield 2008 Presidential Primaries.
** Another ("Trash of the Titans") had Homer run for Sanitation Commissioner, with the promise of having garbagemen cleaning the residents' trash instead of having the residents take it out themselves. He promptly wastes his whole annual budget on new uniforms and amphibious trucks.
** One episode has Mayor Quimby pardon Sideshow Bob from prison only for Bob to run against him in the next election. Bob wins initially, but [[StatusQuoIsGod Quimby is restored to the office]] after it's discovered Bob cheated in the election.
** The subplot of "Lisa's Substitute" focuses on Bart running against Martin for class president. While Bart is the more popular candidate due to his jokes and other gimmicks, Martin wins by two votes- since he and Wendell were the only ones who bothered to vote.
** In "Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish", Bart catches a three-eyed fish in a river downstream of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. After an inspection of the plant reveals numerous safety violations, Mr. Burns runs against Mary Bailey for governor to prevent the plant from being shut down. The night before the election, Burns has a televised dinner with the Simpsons to show his appeal to the common voter. Marge, who supports Bailey, sabotages Burns' political stunt and dooms his campaign by serving him the head of Blinky, the three-eyed fish.
** The third segment of "Treehouse of Horror VII" is entitled "Citizen Kang", where Kang and Kodos capture UsefulNotes/BillClinton and UsefulNotes/BobDole and disguise themselves as them to trick the Earthlings into voting for either of them so they can take over the Earth.
* The ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Douche and Turd" is about an election for a new school mascot after [[AnimalWrongsGroup PETA]] "frees" their original cow mascot. The two candidates are a "giant douche" and a "turd sandwich". The episode concludes that in every election, the choice is between a douche and a turd. Also, [[ShaggyDogStory the election was for nothing in the end]], since P. Diddy and his group massacred PETA, meaning they're free to continue using Mooey the Cow as their mascot.
* The ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode "Dewey Wins" sees Nanefua Pizza running for mayor against incumbent Bill Dewey. Dewey loses.

* ''[[Creator/{{Terrytoons}} The Adventures of Lariat Sam]]'': "The Great Race For Office Space" has Sam competing against Badlands Meeney for the election of the sheriff of Bent Saddle. To settle the election, Mayor Winkie orders a horse race. Sam rides his faithful steed Tippytoes while Meeney has his lackey Bushwhack in a horse costume. The good guys win, of course, as Meeney reflects:
-->'''Bushwhack:''' Don't feel bad, Badlands. ''I'' would have voted for you.\\
'''Meeney:''' That would have made three, Bushwhack. Your one and my two.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'' had "Hop-Popular", where Hop Pop gets nominated to run for mayor of Wartwood following his unemployment a few episodes prior. In the end, he wins every single challenge involved and the town unanimously votes for him over their awful incumbent mayor... but it turns out that ''every other town'' also gets to vote in their election. Three guesses as to how they voted.

* The Election Arc of the ''LetsPlay/DreamSMP'' classifies as this, where [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom Quackity]] ran against Wilbur to try to win the presidency of L'Manburg to prevent a one-party election and everything that happened afterward. It ended with [[spoiler:Jschlatt, a latecoming third party candidate, [[DarkHorseVictory winning the election]] after Quackity pooled his votes with him, [[TheExile kicking Wilbur and Tommy out of the country]], and [[TyrantTakesTheHelm everything going]] [[DisasterDominoes downhill from there]]]].

Election day episodes usually focus on one, two, or more main and/or recurring characters pursuing a bid for some elective office, though sometimes the focus can be reversed to focus on potential voters dilemma as to who they believe to be most qualified for office.

Election day episodes will sometimes end in a DarkHorseVictory if the Victor is a write-in candidate or in the case of an UnderdogVictory.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': The episode " Tommy for Mayor" features the gang pretending to do an election against Angelica.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'': “Hop Popular”: Tired of Mayor Toadstool’s self-serving style of governing, Hop Pop decides to run against the usually unopposed toad in that year’s election. Amphibian elections involve a series of trials done to determine the candidates’ fitness; after Hop Pop easily wind in the first three trials, a worried Toadstool attempts to bribe him to throw the final challenge, a one-on-one boxing match. Hop Pop refuses his offer and wins the match and earns 100% of the vote in town… only to lose the election due to the fact that he only campaigned in Wartwood, when the entire rest of the population of Frog Valley participated in the election.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}: “Hop Popular”: Tired of Mayor Toadstool’s self-serving style of governing, Hop Pop decides to run against the usually unopposed toad in that year’s election. Amphibian elections involve a series of trials done to determine the candidates’ fitness; after Hop Pop easily wind in the first three trials, a worried Toadstool attempts to bribe him to throw the final challenge, a one-on-one boxing match. Hop Pop refuses his offer and wins the match and earns 100% of the vote in town… only to lose the election due to the fact that he only campaigned in Wartwood, when the entire rest of the population of Frog Valley participated in the election.

** Season 1's "[[https://familyguyfanon.fandom.com/wiki/Do_and_Die Do and Die]]" has cockamamie celebrity, Adam West run for mayor of Quahog, [[RealLifeWritesThePlot following the recent abdication of the last mayor, Buddy Cianci]]. Lois was not pleased with a loony idiot like Adam West becoming mayor, so she ran against him, enforcing a strict agenda. In the end, however, [[ForgoneConclusion she lost]] and Adam West became the mayor of Quahog.
** Season 16's "[[https://familyguyfanon.fandom.com/wiki/In_With_the_News In With the News']]" subplot sees Stewie go in disguise as an adult named "Mitchell Barnes" to run against Mayor Adam West in the upcoming mayoral re-election and become the new mayor of Quahog, so that he can take over the city and rule it like an evil dictator. Stewie does a weak job at getting anybody on his side and finds out that the majority of the early votes are for Mayor West, making it inevitable that he's going to lose. So he tries to rig the election with UsefulNotes/VladimirPutin's help