- 1[uncountable, countable] the system of voting in writing and usually in secret; an occasion on which a vote is held The chairperson is chosen by secret ballot. next year's primary ballot Thesauruselection
- vote
- referendum
- ballot
- election an occasion on which people officially choose a political representative or government by voting:Whom did you vote for in the last election?
- vote an occasion on which a group of people vote for someone or something:They took a vote on who should go first.
- referendum an occasion on which all the adults in a district can vote on a particular issue
- ballot the system of voting by marking an election paper, especially in secret; an occasion on which a vote is held:The leader will be chosen by secret ballot. Ballot is usually used about a vote within an organization rather than an occasion on which the public vote.
- a national/local election/vote/referendum/ballot
- to have/hold/conduct a(n) election/vote/referendum/ballot
- conduct/hold an election/a referendum
- run for office/election/governor/mayor/president/the White House
- enter/run in/withdraw from the primary/Senate/gubernatorial race
- represent the Democrats/the Republican Party
- hold/contest a local/mid-term/primary/national election
- launch/run a presidential (election) campaign
- support/back a candidate
- sway/convince/persuade voters/the electorate
- appeal to/attract/woo/target/pander to swing voters
- fix/rig/steal an election/the vote
- go to/be turned away from a polling place/station
- cast a/your vote/ballot (for somebody)
- vote for the Republican candidate/the Democratic ticket
- mark/spoil your ballot paper
- count the early/absentee ballots
- go to/be defeated at the ballot box
- get/win/receive/lose votes
- get/win (60% of) the popular/black/Hispanic/Latino vote
- win power/the election/the primary/a senate seat/a majority
- lose an election/the vote/your majority/your seat
- win/come to power in a landslide (victory) (= with many more votes than any other party)
- elect/reelect somebody (as) mayor/president/congressman/congresswoman/a Senator/a Representative
- be sworn into office/in as president
- take/administer the oath of office
- give/deliver the inaugural address
- take/enter/hold/leave office
- appoint somebody (as) ambassador/governor/minister/a federal judge/a Supreme Court justice
- form a government/a cabinet
- serve two terms as president/in office
- ⇨ more collocations at economy, politics
- 2[countable] the piece of paper on which someone marks who they are voting for What percentage of eligible voters cast their ballots?
- 3the ballot [singular] the total number of votes in an election She won 58.8% of the ballot.
Check pronunciation: ballot