Ballot

Ballot, method of registering a vote. It can be a pre-printed list of people running for office or of issues to be decided by a popular vote (referendum). In the United States, about 50% of the elections are held in a closed booth with a printed ballot mounted on a voting machine. The other type of balloting involves voters checking off their choices and depositing their ballots into a sealed box. After voting is over, the ballots are counted and the highest vote-getters are determined to be the winners.

See also: Voting.