short ballot

American  

noun

1. a ballot containing only candidates for the most important legislative and executive posts, leaving judicial and lesser administrative posts to be filled by appointment.

---

Etymology

Origin of short ballot

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

short ballot

The essential features of the short ballot plan are as follows: Popular elections should be resorted to only for the purpose of choosing those officials who have to do with public policies.

From Problems in American Democracy by Williamson, Thames Ross

The short ballot is a psychological principle which must be taken into account wherever there is voting: it will help the differentiation of political groups by concentrating the attention on essential choices.

From A Preface to Politics by Lippmann, Walter

The initiative, the referendum, the recall, the short ballot, direct primaries, and proportionate representation are all designed to transfer power from rings and bosses to the people themselves.

From Social Justice Without Socialism by Clark, John Bates

This incident of the "short ballot" illustrates the cleavage between invention and routine.

From A Preface to Politics by Lippmann, Walter

A splendid account by the father of the short ballot movement.

From The Boss and the Machine; a chronicle of the politicians and party organization by Orth, Samuel Peter