BALLOT • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Ballot

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/bˈælət/ Listen

noun

Ballot n.

Originally, a ball used for secret voting. Hence: Any printed or written ticket used in voting.

The act of secret voting, whether by balls, written or printed ballots or tickets, or by use of a voting machine; the system of voting secretly. "The insufficiency of the ballot."

The whole number of votes cast at an election, or in a given territory or electoral district.

The official list of candidates competing in an election. "There are no women on the ballot."

Ballot box,

(a)

a box for receiving ballots.

(b)

the act, process or system of voting secretly; same as ballot (2). "The question will be resolved by the ballot box."

verb

Ballot v. t. To vote for or in opposition to. "None of the competitors arriving to a sufficient number of balls, they fell to ballot some others."

Ballot v. i. (past & past part. balloted; pres. part. balloting) To vote or decide by ballot; as, to ballot for a candidate.

See images of 'Ballot'

Etymology of 'Ballot'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Ballot" Quotes from Famous Books

... can do by their votes all that it is proposed they shall do by their muskets. It is hardly necessary that a million or half a million of men should go to Washington to speak their mind to Mr. Johnson, when a ballot-box close at hand will save them the expense and trouble. It will, indeed, be infinitely disgraceful to the nation if Mr. Johnson dares to put his purpose into act, for his courage to violate his own duty will come from the neglect of the people to perform theirs. Let the great uprising ...

— The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 121, November, 1867 • Various

... amenities of life are monopolized by the young, the aged beau is met by the flaming inscription, "Old roosters not wanted." In politics we hear the cry that the favorite candidate is a representative of the "Young Democracy" or "Young Republicans," as the case may be, and that, except at the ballot-box, "Old roosters are not wanted." If a congregation loses its pastor and commences looking around for a successor, the first thing it does is to print in large letters across the pulpit, "Old roosters not wanted." Across the door of every new enterprise is the same inscription. ...

— Observations of a Retired Veteran • Henry C. Tinsley

... solemnly, with pious joy, "I'm a Republican . . . a good Republican, Mr. Barly, like my father before me." He smote his fist into his open palm. "I'll vote the Democrats blue in the face. If a man can't vote for his own advantage, what's the ballot for? I say let's mind our own business. And let me get my hands ...

— Autumn • Robert Nathan

... dare say these gallant sailors, if the question was fairly put to them, would give it by a handsome majority in favour of things as they are. I am a conservative, captain—and I think an appeal ought to be made to the ballot-boxes before we decide on a measure of ...

— Homeward Bound - or, The Chase • James Fenimore Cooper

... are setting folks on to burn us all up in our beds. Political firebugs we call 'em up our way. Want to substitoot the match-box for the ballot-box. Scare all our old women ...

— The Poet at the Breakfast Table • Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

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