Elections terminology

A ballot is a device used to cast votes in an election and may be found as a piece of paper or a small ball used in voting. It was originally a small ball (see blackballing) used to record decisions made by voters in Italy around the 16th century.

sealed container for completed ballots, which prevents access to the ballots cast until the close of the voting period

elected official who is about to leave office

ban on political campaigning prior to a presidential or general election

candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name

ballot that is invalid and is thus not included in the final vote count

election result wherein a party or candidate wins by a large margin

political candidate who frequently runs for an elected office but seldom wins

photograph of the photographer's completed ballot in an election - a c.2014+ genre

election in which a political party makes major gains

set of sharp changes in ideology, issues, leaders, regional and demographic bases of power of political parties, and the structure or rules of the political system, resulting in a new political power structure replacing an older dominant coalition

someone who stands for election with no intention of winning