THE process to start the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election has officially started with voters likely to go to the polls on Thursday, August 1.
Conservative chief whip Julian Smith moved the writ in the House of Commons which officially triggers the contest.
It has been called after Conservative MP Chris Davies was removed from his seat by a recall petition.
The House of Commons confirmed: "The writ has been moved triggering a by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire where a succesful recall petition removed Chris Davies as MP. It was approved by MPs, and a by-election will take place in 21-27 working days time.
Thursday August 1 is the expected date for the by-election as the week before is the Royal Welsh Show and that would cause logistical difficulties as council staff may be unavailable and people could struggle to access polling stations. Since 2016 the council has also hired buildings on the showground for election counts.
A date cannot be confirmed until Powys County Council has received, in person, a copy of the writ.
Conservative Mr Davies is standing to try and regain the seat, he first won in 2015, while the Liberal Democrat candidate is Jane Dodds and Brecon town councillor Tom Davies is standing for Labour. The only other party to announce a candidate so far is the Official Monster Raving Loony Party whose candidate is Lady Lily the Pink from Llanwrtyd Wells.
The new MP will not take their seat until September.