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."

Definitions of vote
  1. noun
    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
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    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
    abstention
    the act of declining to vote for or against something
    pocket veto
    indirect veto of legislation by refusing to sign it
    type of:
    choice, option, pick, selection
    the act of choosing or selecting
  2. noun
    the opinion of a group as determined by voting
    “they put the question to a vote”
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    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
  3. verb
    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”
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    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
  4. verb
    express one's choice or preference by vote
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    types:
    bullet vote
    vote cumulatively and distribute the votes according to some principle
    type of:
    express, state
    indicate through a symbol, formula, etc.
  5. verb
    express a choice or opinion
    “I vote that we all go home”
    “She voted for going to the Chinese restaurant”
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    type of:
    express, state
    indicate through a symbol, formula, etc.
  6. verb
    bring into existence or make available by vote
    “They voted aid for the underdeveloped countries in Asia”
  7. verb
    be guided by in voting
    “vote one's conscience”
  8. noun
    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
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    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)
  9. noun
    a body of voters who have the same interests
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    type of:
    body
    a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity
  10. noun
    the total number of voters who participated
    “they are expecting a large vote”
    synonyms: voter turnout
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    type of:
    numerical quantity
    a quantity expressed as a number
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