The Re-election system of the Football League, in use until 1986, was a process by which the worst-placed clubs in the League had to reapply for their place, while non-League clubs could apply for a place. It was the only way for a non-League side to enter the Football League until direct promotion and relegation was introduced from the 1986–87 season onwards. The clubs placed on a re-election rank at the end of a season had to face their Football League peers at the Annual General Meeting of the League. At the AGM the league members had the choice to either vote to retain the current league members, or allow entry to the League for non-League clubs which had applied.