Presidental Election Vocabulary

The paper or device on which a vote is marked.

• ballot

• nominee

• debate

• general election

An organized discussion of an important issue between two or more opposing sides.

• nominee

• debate

• ballot

• swing state

A member of the largest liberal political party of the United States, which supports a strong federal government, higher taxes and progessive social issues.

• Republican

• primary election

• Democrat

• general election

A group of people chosen from each state who come together to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.

• Democrat

• Republican

• electoral college

• swing states

A regulary scheduled election in which final candidates are selected for government office.

• debate

• electoral college

• primary election

• general election

A person who has been fomally selected to run for an elected officer, perform a duty, or receive an honor.

• Republican

• nominee

• Democrat

• running mate

An election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select the candidates for a general, especially presidential, election.

• primary election

• general election

• electoral college

• running mate

A member of the largest conservative party in the United States, which supports lower taxes, less government intervention in economics and conservative social policies.

• Democrat

• Republican

• nominee

• running mate

A person chosen by a candidate for an election to be given a subordinate office if they win.

• electoral college

• swing state

• running mate

• nominee

A US state where the two major political parties have similar levels of support among voters.

• electoral college

• nominee

• ballot

• swing state