The first step towards filling the vacant seat on the Legislative Council is being taken today (Tuesday).

The timescale for the election will be explained by Speaker Steve Rodan, at the first sitting of the House of Keys since last month's general election.

He will call for nominations for the position, which must be submitted during the calendar month from today.

The nomination period will be followed by a further fortnight for objections and withdrawals, after which an election will be called, to be held during the earliest convenient sitting of the House of Keys.

It's not clear whether that would be before the end of the year.

The seat became vacant when Clare Christian took over from Noel Cringle as president of Tynwald, at the July sitting of the court.

(Picture: The Legislative Council before Mr Cringle's retirement, from tynwald.org.im).