Farage, 62, under investigation in parliament over millions of pounds of gifts from wealthy backers, has said he wants voters in his Clacton electoral district, in southeast England, to judge his actions, not what he characterises as a progressive "establishment" bent on discrediting him.
Many voters in the beach town, which is famous for its Victorian pleasure pier, said that, while they were confused about the reason for a new election, they still supported Farage whatever gifts he had received.
"Why are they going on about it?" said retiree Rosina Herriott, 78, adding all politicians receive gifts.
"It's because of him. They're scared of him, that's what it is."
Farage, whose party has led opinion polls for more than a year, quit as an MP on Tuesday to trigger a by-election.
He said the parliamentary standards committee investigating him was being used as a "political tool" by those who feared the electoral threat he posed.
He has denied any wrongdoing.
But in the hours that followed his announcement, all the main political parties said they would not take part in the Clacton vote, dubbing it a "stunt" designed to distract attention from the issue of his finances.
Voters in Clacton, which in the early 20th century was a holiday destination for Londoners but is now a retiree hotspot surrounded by static mobile home parks, mostly defended Farage and said he was the only politician they trusted with the issue of immigration, a big concern for UK voters.
Zoe Banks, a 53-year-old office worker, said she did not have a problem with the gift Farage received as long as it was legal, and she did believe he was being attacked by the political establishment.
"He'll walk it," she said of the vote.
"This time I might actually vote for him ... if he's not broken any rule."
But Ray Lynaugh, a 54-year-old bus driver, disagreed.
"I dislike the man immensely," he told Reuters.
"What he stands for, what he's done to the country. He is self-serving, self-centred."
"Why people vote for him, I don't know."
At the last election, in July 2024, Reform won a 46 per cent share of the vote, comfortably ahead of the second-placed Conservative Party, with 28 per cent.
With the main parties boycotting the contest, Farage's highest-profile opponent is likely to be the masked novelty candidate Count Binface.
Count Binface conceded he will probably not win in Clacton.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today program: "My job is to celebrate and defend the wonders of British democracy.
"And look at this, eh? The fact that you are interviewing me on the Today program, because all the other parties aren't standing, says more about them than it does about me.
"Are they running scared from old Binny or do they think that Nigel's running a cunning stunt? And I pronounced that carefully at 8.55 in the morning."
with Reuters
