clothespin vote
A vote that is cast for a given candidate despite personal reservations or a distaste for that individual.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I will cast a clothespin vote for him because I dislike his opponent more.”
“He gives a clothespin vote to the leader he trusts the least.”
“Many voters felt forced to cast a clothespin vote to keep the other candidate out of office.”
“Even though she disagreed with his tax plan, she cast a clothespin vote to ensure her party stayed in power.”
“The young activist decided to offer a clothespin vote for the moderate candidate rather than wasting her ballot on a third party.”
“Disillusioned by the lack of viable options, the citizens reluctantly cast a clothespin vote, holding their noses as they marked the ballot for the lesser of two evils.”
From the figurative image of holding one's nose while casting a ballot, suggesting that the candidate is a source of considerable olfactory distress. The term implies that the act of voting has become an exercise in endurance, necessitating the use of a clothespin to mask the metaphorical stench of the available choices.
- 01
cast one's vote
To vote for something.
- 02
get out the vote
To increase voter turnout, typically in a highly partisan way.
- 03
old enough to vote
Old; decrepit (said especially of an inanimate object).
- 04
vote down
To defeat (some measure or candidate) by a majority vote.
- 05
vote with one's feet
To express one's preferences through one's actions, by voluntarily participating in or withdrawing from an activity, group, or process; especially, by physical migration to leave a situation one does not like, or to move to a situation one regards as more beneficial.
- 06
vote with one's wallet
To choose or vote based on one's financial situation.
Last updated August 10, 2026