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Politics & Government vocabulary · Elections and Voting

Vote

Meaning in politics & government, with examples

/vəʊt/nounCore term

In politics & government, vote means: A formal choice that a person makes in an election or meeting, for example by marking a ballot or raising a hand; also the act of deciding something in this way.

In Turkish: oy, oylama, oy vermek

How it is used

Used both as a noun and a verb. People vote for or against a candidate or proposal, cast their vote, and a party wins a share of the vote. In parliament a bill is put to a vote, and members vote on it.

Example sentences

  1. Nearly two million people voted for the first time in this election.

  2. The proposal was put to a vote and passed with 220 votes in favour.

  3. Every vote counts in a close race.

Common collocations

  • cast a vote
  • vote for
  • vote against
  • put something to a vote
  • share of the vote
  • voterA person who has the legal right to vote in an election, or who actually votes in one.
  • ballotA paper or electronic form on which a voter marks their choice; also the system or act of voting secretly in this way.
  • electionAn organized process in which people vote to choose a person or group for an official position, such as members of parliament, a president or a mayor.
  • majorityThe larger part of a group, especially more than half of the seats in parliament or of the votes cast; also the number by which the winner is ahead of the others.
  • turnoutThe number or percentage of eligible people who actually vote in an election or referendum.

More terms: Elections and Voting

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