| abstain |
in parliamentary process, to refrain from casting a vote. [1/2 definitions] |
| abstention |
in parliamentary procedure, a declaration that one intends not to vote on a motion. [1/2 definitions] |
| acclaim |
vote by voice or applause, showing virtually unanimous approval; acclamation. [1/4 definitions] |
| acclamation |
a vote by voice or applause, showing virtually unanimous approval. [1/2 definitions] |
| at-large election |
an election in which every voter can vote for candidates to fill any and all vacant positions in a representative body. Unlike a single-member election, in which people can vote only for candidates who represent their particular legislative district, at-large elections allow every person to vote on each vacant position within a governing body. |
| aye |
yes (usu. used for an oral vote). [2 definitions] |
| ballot |
a piece of paper on which a voter enters his or her vote. [2/6 definitions] |
| blackball |
to vote against or refuse membership to. [2/3 definitions] |
| cast |
to give formally (one's vote or ballot). [1/18 definitions] |
| casting vote |
the deciding vote cast by the presiding officer to break a tie, as in a legislative body. |
| civil rights |
in the United States, certain rights and liberties, as to vote, own property, and be treated equally regardless of race, religion, or sex, that are guaranteed by amendments to the Constitution and certain Congressional Acts, esp. as applied to an individual or a minority group. [1/2 definitions] |
| Civil Rights Act |
in the U.S., any of several laws intended to protect civil rights, esp. the landmark law passed by Congress in 1964 that aimed to protect the constitutional right of all citizens to vote and to prevent racial discrimination in places of employment, public facilities, public accommodations, and the like. |
| closed primary election |
in the United States, a direct primary election in which voters must show evidence of their party affiliation and may vote only for candidates of the same party. |
| cloture |
in U.S. parliamentary procedure, a method of ending debate and causing an immediate vote on the matter being discussed. [1/2 definitions] |
| cooping |
the practice of kidnapping a person and forcing them to vote, often repeatedly, for a particular candidate in an election. |
| direct primary election |
a preliminary election in which candidates for public office are nominated by direct vote of the people. (Cf. closed primary election.) |
| disenfranchise |
to deprive (someone) of a right of citizenship, esp. the right to vote; disfranchise. [1/2 definitions] |
| disfranchise |
to deprive (someone) of a right of citizenship, esp. the right to vote; disenfranchise. [1/2 definitions] |
| electoral college |
a body of people chosen to officially elect the President and Vice President of the United States, based on the popular vote in each state. |
| electoral vote |
the tally of the votes cast by the electors of the electoral college in a U.S. presidential election. In most states, the winner of the popular vote receives one hundred percent of that state's electoral vote; therefore, the percentage of the total electoral vote cast for each candidate may not reflect the percentage of the popular vote cast for each candidate. [2 definitions] |
| enfranchise |
to give the rights of a citizen to, esp. the right to vote. [1/2 definitions] |