ballot

American  

[bal-uht] / ˈbæl ət /

noun

1. a slip or sheet of paper on which a person's vote is marked.

2. the method of secret voting by means of printed or written slips or sheets of paper or by means of voting machines.

3. voting in general, or a round of voting.

   Our candidate was defeated on the third ballot.

4. the list of candidates to be voted on.

   They succeeded in getting her name placed on the ballot.

5. the right to vote.

   to gain the ballot after years of struggle.

6. the whole number of votes cast or recorded.

7. a system or the practice of drawing lots.

   The assassin would be chosen by ballot.

8. (formerly) a little ball used in voting.

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verb (used without object)

ballots, present (3rd person singular) balloted, past participle, past balloting present participle

1. to vote.

   to ballot against a candidate.

2. to draw lots.

   to ballot for places.

verb (used with object)

ballots, present (3rd person singular) balloted, past participle, past balloting present participle

1. to canvass or solicit (a group, membership, etc.) for votes.

   Members were balloted on the resolution.

2. to select, especially for military service.

   Certain age groups will not be balloted at this time.

ballot British  

/ ˈbælət /

noun

1. the democratic practice of selecting a representative, a course of action, or deciding some other choice by submitting the options to a vote of all qualified persons

2. an instance of voting, usually in secret using ballot papers or a voting machine

3. the paper on which a vote is recorded

4. a list of candidates standing for office

5. the number of votes cast in an election

6. a random selection of successful applicants for something in which the demand exceeds the supply, esp for shares in an oversubscribed new issue

7. the allocation by ballot of farming land among eligible candidates, such as ex-servicemen

8. a low-interest housing loan allocated by building societies by drawing lots among its eligible members

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verb

1. to vote or elicit a vote from

   we balloted the members on this issue

2. to select (officials, etc) by lot or ballot or to select (successful applicants) at random

3. to vote or decide (on an issue, etc)

ballot Idioms  

1. see stuff the ballot box.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• balloter
  noun
• nonballoting
  noun
• reballot
  noun
• unballoted
  adjective
• preballot
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have balloted
  perfect
• has balloted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is balloting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been balloting
  perfect progressive
• has been balloting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• ballots
  singular 3rd person
• balloting
  participle
• are balloting
  progressive
• am balloting
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had balloted
  perfect
• were balloting
  progressive plural
• had been balloting
  perfect progressive
• was balloting
  progressive singular
• balloted
  participle
• balloted
  simple

Future

• will ballot
  simple
• will have balloted
  perfect
• will have been balloting
  perfect progressive
• will be balloting
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of ballot

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French ballotte, from Venetian Italian ballotta, equivalent to ball ( a ) ball ¹ + -otta diminutive suffix

Explanation

A ballot is a document that lists the choices during an election. When running for office, a candidate’s first goal is getting on the ballot. This Italian-derived word has proven remarkably successful by adapting itself to evolving voting technologies. It has been applied to devices used for casting votes from ancient times to the present, whether consisting of pottery, paper or pixels. Any kind of device, whether on paper or a computer screen, can be called a ballot if it lists the candidates and allows you to vote.

Example Sentences

Raman on Monday clinched a spot on the November ballot, the Associated Press declared.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

Had that not happened, Murphy would have made it to the general election without having to defend his spot on the ballot.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026

Business groups championed a 2024 ballot measure to slash the tax, which passed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

"We will accept any choice made by the people" in the election, Pashinyan told journalists at a polling station in Yerevan after casting his ballot.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

On the other side, blacks like Mr. Horton showed their passion for the power of the ballot and came out in large numbers for Big Bill.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield

Related Words

• election
• plebiscite
• poll
• polling
• referendum
• slate
• tally
• ticket