As a general rule, in liberal democracies outside the United States there are few (if any) laws that would prevent failed and/or disqualified nomination candidates from contesting the general election, although mounting such a challenge often results in expulsion and/or permanent ostracization from the candidate's former party. In jurisdictions using the Westminster system and/or single-member districts, mulligan candidates are a fairly common occurrence especially in cases where the mulligan candidate alleges (s)he lost a nomination contest due to unfair electoral practices or was disqualified by his or her former party without reasonable cause.