vote

Your vote is your official choice on some specific question. You might feel that your vote hardly counts in a Presidential election, though your vote for student council treasurer might feel like it has a lot more importance.

A vote is a formal noting of your preference, in an online poll or sitting in a circle with your book group, or when you cast it on a ballot at a polling place. To voice that preference is also to vote, either officially or more casually: "Let's all vote on a group costume for Halloween this year — a bag of jelly beans or the seven dwarfs?" The Latin root of vote is votum, "a vow, wish, or promise."

Primary Meanings of vote

1.
 nv
a choice that is made by counting the number of people in favor of each alternative
express one's preference for a candidate or for a measure or resolution; cast a vote
2.
 n
a legal right guaranteed by the 15th amendment to the US Constitution; guaranteed to women by the 19th amendment
Full Definitions of vote
1

n a choice that is made by counting the number of people in favor of each alternative

“there were only 17 votes in favor of the motion”
“they allowed just one vote per person”
Synonyms:
ballot, balloting, voting
Types:
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block vote
a vote proportional in magnitude to the number of people that a delegate represents
secret ballot
a vote in which each person's choice is secret but the totaled votes are public
split ticket
a ballot cast by a voter who votes for candidates from more than one party
straight ticket
a ballot cast by a voter who votes for all the candidates of one party
multiple voting
the act of voting in more than one place by the same person at the same election (illegal in U.S.)
casting vote
the deciding vote cast by the presiding officer to resolve a tie
veto
a vote that blocks a decision
write-in
a vote cast by writing in the name of a candidate who is not listed on the ballot
pocket veto
indirect veto of legislation by refusing to sign it
Type of:
choice, option, pick, selection
the act of choosing or selecting

n the opinion of a group as determined by voting

“they put the question to a vote”
Types:
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plebiscite
a vote by the electorate determining public opinion on a question of national importance
referendum
a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate
election
a vote to select the winner of a position or political office
reelection
election again
general election
a national or state election; candidates are chosen in all constituencies
primary, primary election
a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen
by-election, bye-election
a special election between regular elections
runoff
a final election to resolve an earlier election that did not produce a winner
Type of:
group action
action taken by a group of people

v express one's preference for a candidate or for a measure or resolution; cast a vote

“He voted for the motion”
“None of the Democrats voted last night”
Types:
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write in
cast a vote by inserting a name that does not appear on the ballot
turn thumbs down, vote down
vote against
outvote
defeat by a majority of votes
ballot
vote by ballot
poll
vote in an election at a polling station
Type of:
choose, pick out, select, take
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

v express one's choice or preference by vote

“vote the Democratic ticket”
Types:
bullet vote
vote cumulatively and distribute the votes according to some principle
Type of:
express, state
indicate through a symbol, formula, etc.

v express a choice or opinion

“I vote that we all go home”
“She voted for going to the Chinese restaurant”
Type of:
express, state
indicate through a symbol, formula, etc.

v bring into existence or make available by vote

“They voted aid for the underdeveloped countries in Asia”

v be guided by in voting

“vote one's conscience”
2

n a legal right guaranteed by the 15th amendment to the US Constitution; guaranteed to women by the 19th amendment

“American women got the vote in 1920”
Synonyms:
right to vote, suffrage
Types:
universal suffrage
suffrage for all adults who are not disqualified by the laws of the country
Type of:
enfranchisement, franchise
a statutory right or privilege granted to a person or group by a government (especially the rights of citizenship and the right to vote)

n a body of voters who have the same interests

“he failed to get the Black vote”
Type of:
body
a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity

n the total number of voters who participated

“they are expecting a large vote”
Synonyms:
voter turnout
Type of:
numerical quantity
a quantity expressed as a number

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