Election Vocabulary
Dan from Traverse City
asked about the origin of a couple of election words. Specifically, he asked
about ballot and precinct, but I’ll expand the question a bit.
Ballot came from French and
Italian words that meant a small ball. The election sense of the word owes its
origin to the Venetian Republic. There, it was the custom to place a palmed
colored ball into a container in order to register a secret vote.
Precinct came from a
Latin word that meant to encircle or surround. Particularly, it referred to the
act of girding one’s loins—using a belt, sash, or cincture to gather in a
flowing garment at the waist. In a political sense, it designates an
administrative district—a division of a county, city, town, parish, etc. for
election purposes.
Campaign came from a French
word that meant open countryside. When the word entered English, it referred to
an army in the field. By analogy, its meaning spread to any organized attempt,
including an organized course of action designed to influence the outcome of an
election.
Election came from a
Latin word that meant selection or choice. Specific reference to appointment to
an office appeared in English in the early 16th century.
Politics came from a
Greek word that meant public matters or civic affairs. Aristotle wrote a treatise
with that title.
Polling owes its
existence to a German word that meant a head. Basically, a polling place
conducts a head count, though it is no longer literal.
Ticket tracks back to
French and German words that meant a tag, label, or notice attached to an
object during legal proceedings. The political use of the word designates the
list of candidates put forward by a particular party.
Vote came from a Latin
word that meant a vow or an ardent desire. In the political sense, it is a
decisive choice that designates approval or acceptance springing from one’s
desire and inclination.
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