ballot
noun

- a system or occasion of secret voting

(Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)

- a slip or sheet of paper, cardboard, or the like, on which a voter marks his or her vote

(Random House Unabridged Dictionary)

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WORD ORIGIN

In British and U.S. English, ballot describes the system or process of voting. In U.S. English, among other things a ballot is the piece of paper on which a vote is placed. Submitting the vote to have it counted is called "casting the ballot.’’ In British English a physical ballot is called the "ballot paper.’’

During government elections, so-called postal ballots (U.S. absentee ballot) are used if the voter is unable to come to the polling station.

Ballot is used in several other senses all of which have to do with voting:

- voting in general, or a round of voting: Our candidate was defeated on the third ballot.

- the list of candidates to be voted on: They succeeded in getting her name placed on the ballot.

- the right to vote: They gained the ballot after years of struggle.

- the whole number of votes cast or recorded: Officials counted the ballots all through the night.

- a system or the practice of drawing lots: The person who is to go first will be chosen by ballot.

Ballot stems from the Italian "ballotta,’’ a diminutive form of ball, which was a small ball used to register a vote. The ball was dropped into a box or container as a means of voting secretly. When yes and no votes were recorded with different colours, the negative was often indicated by black. This gave rise to the term "blackball,’’ meaning to exclude someone from membership by a negative vote.

(sources: Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Webster’s II New College Dictionary)

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SYNONYMS

(voting)
election, franchise, plebiscite, poll, polling, referendum, slate, tally, ticket

(political candidates)
choice, lineup, slate, ticket

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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:

"Let's hold a ballot to decide who should take over the new position."