BALLOT

vote, ballot, voting, balloting

(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”

ballot

(noun) a document listing the alternatives that is used in voting

ballot

(verb) vote by ballot; “The voters were balloting in this state”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

ballot (plural ballots)

Originally, a small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote.

The process of voting, especially in secret; a round of voting.

The total of all the votes cast in an election.

(chiefly, US) A list of candidates running for office; a ticket.

Synonyms

• (paper or card used to cast a vote): ballot paper, voting slip

Verb

ballot (third-person singular simple present ballots, present participle balloting, simple past and past participle balloted)

To vote or decide by ballot.

To draw lots.

Source: Wiktionary

Bal"lot, n. Etym: [F. ballotte, fr. It. ballotta. See Ball round body.]

1. Originally, a ball used for secret voting. Hence: Any printed or written ticket used in voting.

2. The act of voting by balls or written or printed ballots or tickets; the system of voting secretly by balls or by tickets. The insufficiency of the ballot. Dickens.

3. The whole number of votes cast at an election, or in a given territory or electoral district. Ballot box, a box for receiving ballots.

Bal"lot, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Balloted; p. pr. & vb. n. Balloting.] Etym: [F. ballotter to toss, to ballot, or It. ballottare. See Ballot, n.]

Definition: To vote or decide by ballot; as, to ballot for a candidate.

Bal"lot, v. t.

Definition: To vote for or in opposition to. None of the competitors arriving to a sufficient number of balls, they fell to ballot some others. Sir H. Wotton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition