I. bal ‧ lot 1 /ˈbælət/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Italian ; Origin: ballotta , from balla ( ⇨ ↑ balloon 1 ); because small balls were used for voting ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] a system of voting, usually in secret, or an occasion when you vote in this way:
The party leader is elected by secret ballot.
Workers at the plant held a ballot and rejected strike action.
2 . [countable] a piece of paper on which you make a secret vote SYN ballot paper :
Only 22% of voters cast their ballots.
3 . the ballot the total number of votes in an election SYN the vote :
He won 54% of the ballot.
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THESAURUS
▪ election an occasion when people choose a government or leader by voting:
the American presidential election
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South Africa held its first multi-racial elections in 1994.
▪ ballot /ˈbælət/ an occasion when the members of an organization vote by marking what they want on a piece of paper, especially to make sure that it is secret:
The result of the ballot showed that nurses were not in favour of a strike.
▪ referendum /ˌrefəˈrendəm/ an occasion when everyone in a country votes on an important political subject:
In the Danish referendum, the people voted ‘no’ to joining the European single currency.
▪ the polls the process of voting in a political election – used especially in news reports:
4,500,000 voters went to the polls in eight provinces to elect six governors.
▪ show of hands an act of voting informally for something by the people in a group raising their hands:
May I have a show of hands from all those in favour of the proposal?
II. ballot 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
1 . to ask someone to vote for something
ballot on/over
Train drivers are being balloted on industrial action.
2 . to vote for something
ballot for
Staff balloted for strike action yesterday.
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THESAURUS
▪ vote [intransitive and transitive] to show which person or party you want, or whether you support a plan, by marking a piece of paper, raising your hand etc:
I’ve voted Democrat all my life.
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You can vote for your favourite singer.
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A majority of the people voted for independence.
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In tomorrow’s election, many young people will be voting for the first time.
▪ elect [transitive] to choose a leader, representative, or government by voting, so that they become the new leader, representative etc:
He was elected mayor of London.
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the newly-elected government
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I think we should start by electing a new chairman.
▪ go to the polls if a country or voters go to the polls, they vote in an election - used especially in news reports:
The US goes to the polls in November.
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The economic crisis could well be a decisive factor when voters go to the polls this autumn.
▪ take a vote if a group of people at a meeting take a vote, they vote about something:
We should take a vote on whether or not to accept their offer.
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They took a vote and picked Bernard.
▪ cast your vote formal to mark a piece of paper, call a telephone number etc in order to vote:
The first votes have been cast in the country’s general election.
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Click here to cast your vote.
▪ ballot [transitive] to ask the members of an organization to vote on something in order to decide what to do:
The union will ballot its members on whether to go ahead with the strike action.
▪ veto [transitive] to vote against something that other people have agreed on, so that it cannot happen:
The president has the right to veto any piece of legislation.