# ballot

/ˈbæɫət/ (US) · /bˈælət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ballot
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. voting paper

noun · CEFR B2

the piece of paper you use to mark your choice in an election.

For teachers: the physical slip of paper or electronic record used to register a secret vote.

- The official handed her a ballot and pointed toward the private voting booth.
- Voters were instructed to mark their preferred candidate clearly to ensure the ballot would not be disqualified during the counting process.

### 2. the voting process

noun · CEFR B2

the system or act of voting in secret.

For teachers: the procedure of secret voting or a specific round of such voting.

- The union members decided to hold a secret ballot to choose their new leader.
- The committee resolved to settle the dispute by ballot, ensuring that every member could express their preference without fear of social pressure.

### 3. list of candidates

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

the list of all the people you can choose from in an election.

For teachers: the list of candidates or proposed laws appearing on a specific election ticket.

- There were five different names on the ballot for the position of mayor.
- Several independent candidates struggled to gather enough signatures to secure a spot on the official state ballot.

### 4. to ask for a vote

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to ask a group of people to vote on something.

For teachers: to solicit a vote from a specific constituency, often used in the context of industrial action or organizational changes.

- The company will ballot its workers to see if they agree with the new pay deal.
- The trade union is legally required to ballot its entire membership before authorizing a nationwide strike.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually the group being asked to vote.

## Examples

- The voters cast their ballots in the morning.
- After the polls closed, officials spent the entire night counting every ballot to determine the winner of the local election.
- The integrity of the democratic process relies on the secrecy of the ballot, ensuring that no citizen feels pressured or intimidated when selecting their preferred candidate.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.