ballot

Everyday

1. A way of voting secretly by writing on a paper or using a machine. tree →
2. The paper you vote on (a ballot paper). tree →
3. A vote held in this way. tree →
4. (UK, Australia) A random draw to decide who gets something, like tickets or places. tree →
5. (verb) To ask people to vote. tree →

In the lessons

In citizenship lessons and school council elections, pupils vote by ballot. In maths, ballot results are counted, compared and shown in charts or as fractions. In the UK and Australia, popular tickets or school places can be decided by ballot (random draw). Phrases: secret ballot, ballot box, ballot paper, cast a ballot.

Examples

• We voted for class captain by secret ballot. tree →
• Put your ballot paper in the ballot box. tree →
• Out of 30 ballots, 18 were for Mia. tree →
• The tickets for the final were sold by ballot. tree →
• The union balloted its members. tree →
• Each ballot must be counted carefully. tree →

Note

Double l, single t: ballot, balloted. In maths, the fraction of votes = votes for a person ÷ all ballots. Do not confuse with ballet (dance).