Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Italian
Origin: ballotta, from balla ( BALLOON1); because small balls were used for voting

ballot

1 noun
     
Related topics: Voting
bal‧lot1
1 [uncountable and countable]PPV a system of voting, usually in secret, or an occasion when you vote in this way:
The party leader is elected by secret ballot.
Workers at the plant held a ballot and rejected strike action.
2 [countable]PPV a piece of paper on which you make a secret vote [= ballot paper]:
Only 22% of voters cast their ballots.
3PPV

the ballot

the total number of votes in an election:
He won 54% of the ballot.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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