Election Vocabulary

This is the right to vote.

• suffrage

• nominate

• referendum

• register

To officially sign up to vote.

• suffrage

• register

• nominate

• recall

All counties and cities are divided into geographical voting districts.

• register

• political spectrum

• precincts

• popular vote

The place you go to vote on Election Day.

• precincts

• register

• suffrage

• polling place

To select candidates to run for political office.

• recall

• register

• nominate

• suffrage

A paper ballot that lists the names of the candidates. A voter marks his choices on the ballot in private.

• nominate

• secret ballot

• primary election

• referendum

This happens first. It allows voters to choose which candidates will run in the general election for each political party (only one for each party).

• general election

• primary election

• electoral college

• political spectrum

Only a voter who is registered in a particular party can vote to choose the party's candidate.Republicans choose the republican candidate and democrats choose the democratic candidate.

• closed primary

• primary election

• open primary

• general election

When voters choose their leaders from the winners of the primaries. Any voter can vote for any candidate, regardless of what party they are registered in.

• primary election

• general election

• open primary

• closed primary

The votes cast directly by the people to choose the electors. The electors will actually cast the votes for the President and VP.

• primary election

• popular vote

• recall

• referendum