Elections and Politics Terms

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postal ballot

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a piece of paper, which voters who are unable to be present at an election can vote on or send in by post

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casting vote

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A single vote, given by the person in charge of a meeting if the number of votes about something is equal, that decides the matter.

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election campaign

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the period of weeks immediately before an election when politicians try to persuade people to vote for them

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landslide

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victory; the winning of an election with extremely large number of votes

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abstain

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to decide not to use your vote

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ballot

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a system or occasion of secret voting

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by-election

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an election which happens at a different time from a main election, to choose a member of parliament or representative to replace one that has died or left their job

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election

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a time when people vote in order to choose someone for a political or official job

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hung parliament

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having an equal or nearly equal number of members with opposing opinions, so that no decisions can be made

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marginal

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a political area or position in parliament which can be won by only a small number of votes because support for the main political parties is equally divided among the people voting