Ballot

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbælÉ™t/

Origin

From Italian ballotta, a small ball used to register a vote.

Not voting. The ballota was a ball drawn from an urn to select at random, by lottery, a person for a role.

Ref: See, for instance, p166 J J Norwich, 'History of Venice' Penguin 1983

Noun

1. A paper or card used to cast a vote.
2. The process of voting, especially in secret.
• Charles Dickensthe insufficiency of the ballot
3. (chiefly US) A list of candidates running for office; a ticket.
4. The total of all votes cast in an election.

Synonyms

• (paper or card used to cast a vote) voting slip

Derived terms

• ballot box

Full definition of ballot

Verb

1. To vote or decide by ballot.to ballot for a candidate
2. To draw lots.