Dowling resigned from the board last month following his conviction in August for assaulting a woman after returning home from the pub.
Initially, Dowling remained on the board but eventually stepped down after calls for his resignation by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and others.
The three candidates who have been nominated to fill the empty seat on the board are nurse Leeann McLew, Hyde farmer Mark O'Neill and business owner Pip Thomson.
Nominations closed on Tuesday.
Nothing in the Local Government Act prevented Dowling from standing again.
A postal single transferable vote would be held over three weeks with the polls closing at noon on Wednesday, December 20.
Electoral officer Pam Jordan said she was unable to provide an estimate of the by-election cost, until next week.
Postal votes would be mailed to those enrolled in the Strath Taieri community board area on November 28.
The new board member would likely be sworn in at the first community board meeting after the by-election, which was scheduled to be held in February.
