Elections 2020: a Glossary of Terms to Know

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

This is part of our ongoing series on Election-2020. During this election cycle, we will hear a lot of terms as such open seats, toss-up, Absentee Ballot, etc, etc. Below find a glossary of the most commonly used terms. We hope it will help you understand our electoral process better.

Absentee Ballot

• A ballot filed by a voter who cannot be present at their polling place on Election Day.  

Ballot 

• A list of candidates and proposed laws that voters mark to make choices 

Ballot Initiative 

• A proposed law drafted by citizens and placed on the ballot.  

Campaign Finance Disclosure 

• A report explains how a candidate spends the money raised for the campaign and the source of money.

Constituent

• A person who lives, works or pays taxes in an area that a politician represents

Delegate, Convention (Unpledged, Pledged, and Super)

• Someone who is chosen to represent a town or state at a national political convention.  

District (also Ward)

• A geographical area that an elected official serves or represents

Election Official (also Poll Worker, Election Clerk, Election Judge)

• A person appointed to:
  • Monitor the voting process at a polling place
  • Make sure voters follow state requirements
  • Certify an election was conducted legally
  • Give the official vote count

Elector

• A person who is certified to represent the state’s vote in the Electoral College

Electoral College

• The process Americans use to elect the president and vice president

General Election

• The final election to choose a winner for a political office  

Incumbent

• The person currently in a particular job or political office

Midterm Election

• The federal election for members of Congress held between presidential elections

Nominee

• The final candidate who is chosen by a party to represent them in an election

Open Seat

• An election in which an incumbent is not seeking re-election  

Political Action Committee (PAC)

• A group organized to raise money or support for a politician or cause

Political Party

• A group whose intent is to govern and legislate in a specific way based on a chosen set of principles or platform

Polling Place (Polling Station)

• The location in which you cast your vote. It may be schools, churches, community centers, or other central public places

Popular Vote

• The votes cast during an election for a candidate or about an issue. Whichever candidate or decision about an issue gets the most votes wins  the popular vote 

Precinct (Election District, Voting District)

• Each city, county, or geographic area is divided by address into precincts to assign polling places and gather votes. A precinct can sometimes be called an election district or voting district

Primary Election (Open and Closed)

• An election held to choose candidates for the general election. In an open primary, all voters can vote for any. In a closed primary, voters can only vote for candidates from the party that they belong

Provisional Ballot

• Type of ballot used to collect a vote when there are questions about the voter’s’  identity to vote at a precinct

Recall Election

• An election for voters to choose whether to remove an elected official from office before the end of the official’s term.  

Recount

• Counting the votes again because of a suspected error in totaling them the first time

Referendum

• A proposed new law or a proposal to repeal an existing law, passed to the voters to approve or reject 

Registered Voter

• Someone who is qualified and is in the  voter list

Sample Ballot

• An example of what the official ballot will look like 

Special election

• An election to fill a vacant position if an officeholder dies, resigns or is impeached  

Super Tuesday

• The day when the most states and territories hold presidential primary elections

Term

• The set length of time for someone to serve in an elected office 

Term Limit

• The total amount of terms that an elected representative is allowed to serve in a particular position 

Ticket

• The group of candidates that a party is running in an election

Toss-Up

• An election where any candidate may win

Town Hall Meeting or Debate

• A setting in which candidates for office answer questions from voters

Voter Fraud (Election Fraud)

• Interfering with the results of an election by doing illegal things that affect the outcome  

Voter Intimidation (Voter Suppression)

• An attempt to prevent eligible people from voting or forcing them to vote a certain way 

Voting Guide / Voter Guide

• Information about candidates and issues in an upcoming election. Political parties, organizations, or other groups can publish guides. They may be non-partisan or may favor a particular party or viewpoint.