An English-Arabic Translator's Guide To Political Terminology

BANHA UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ARTS
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

Code (325)
AnEnglish-Arabic
TranslatorsGuide
ToPolitical Terminology

Complied By
Professor NazikAbdel-Lateef PH.D.WALESUNIVERSITY,
UK

2011/2012

Contents
PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com
Introduction
..1
Preliminaries to translation as a
process4

General Vocabulary
51

General
53

Politics
.70

Elections
.89

Military
92

Economics
..101

Trade and
industry..1
05

Law and
order
.109

Disaster and
aid.113

More
elections
117
INTRODUCTION

The ability to access political vocabulary in Media Arabic has
become increasingly important in the light of recent
developments in the Middle East. Consequently, the need for a
'quick-fix' vocabulary is greater than ever. Arabic dictionaries
are not equipped to deal with vocabulary which involves many
new coinages to express contemporary concepts (for example,
multi-culturalism, anti-aircraft missile, globalisation). While
English-speaking students can deduce some terms from Arabic
to English by thinking laterally (for example, ministerial
straightening equals cabinet reshuffle, the falsification of
elections equals election-rigging), this is a much more hit-and-
miss process when attempted from English to Arabic. Until
now, getting to know the Arabic terminology has necessitated a
long period of familiarisation with the Arabic media. This book
is designed to help undergraduates, postgraduates, and
diplomatic personnel bypass this lengthy process.
This book aims to supply the core vocabulary of political
Arabic terminology in a logical format to provide easy
reference and easy-to-learn lists testing both Arabic to
English and English to Arabic. Familiarisation with this
book will furnish the reader with an invaluable knowledge
of the key vocabulary components essential to
comprehend, translate, write and speak contemporary
Arabic. Whilst independently useful, this book sets the
vocabulary in context and teaches students to manipulate
typical Arabic structures and formats.
This book comprises sections, organised by topic: General;
Politics; Elections; Military; Economics; Trade and Industry;
Law and Order; and Disaster and Aid. The initial General
section comprises vocabulary pertaining to reports, statements,
sources and common media idioms of a general nature. The
General and Politics sections are naturally the longest, since
much of this vocabulary is also used in media discussions
concerning the Military, Economics, Trade and Industry and so
on. Vocabulary is not repeated except where this forms part of
an expression to produce a new meaning. Expressions have been
excluded where the reader has the information to assemble these
logically. For example, 'intelligence' and 'military' are both
supplied as general media vocabulary items in the General
section, therefore 'military intelligence' does not feature as a
separate entry in the Military section.
Each section has its own internal logic. For example, the Politics
section begins with common political acronyms and
organisations followed by political systems, descriptors of
political stance, political bodies and organisations, political
offices and roles, geographical entities, and so on. Direct
subtitles for groupings within each section have been avoided
since not all vocabulary items can be neatly categorised beyond
the broad section title. Within each logical grouping,
alphabetical order has purposely been avoided since this has a
negative impact on the learning of vocabulary lists. Lastly, this
book does not claim to be exhaustive and the choice of
vocabulary is necessarily to some extent subjective. However,
very effort has been made to select the most useful and/or
common vocabulary items.

Election Terminology may have left only few stones unturned.
Even the most obscure expressions have been discussed and
definitions have been attempted. It would be an understatement
to say that most Arabic speakers are passionate about Arabic
and quick to debate usage, nuance and meaning. Yet another
component of the debate is the issue of regional differences. In
Lebanon, for example, "mabsut" means happy. In Iraq "mabsut"
means well beaten As with most communication, context is
everything.
Preliminaries to translation as a process

BASIC DEFINITIONS

An obvious place to begin a translation course is to examine
translation as a process - what it is that the translator actually
does. To do this, we must note at the outset a few basic terms
that will be used throughout the course:

Text: Any given stretch of speech or writing assumed to make a
coherent whole. A minimal text may consist of a single
word - for instance, the road sign "'stop' - provided this is
construed as an independent message. A maximal text may
run into thousands of pages. An example of a maximal text
in Arabic would be the many volumes of #%&() *+',- .,/0
2356()4 by the classical Islamic writer 8:() &+&< =9 ?6A7 C& ,
sometimes referred to in English as Tabari's Annals.
Source Text (ST) The text requiring translation.
Target Text (TT) The text which is a translation of the ST.
Source Language (SL) The language in which the ST is spoken
or written.
Target Language (TL) The language into which the ST is to
be translated.
Strategy The translator's overall 'game-plan', consisting of a
set of strategic decisions taken after an initial reading of the
ST, but before starting detailed translation.
Strategic decisions The first set of reasoned decisions taken by
the translator. These are taken before starting the
translation in detail, in response to the following questions:
'What is the message content of this particular ST? What
are its salient linguistic features? What are its principal
effects? What genre does it belong to and what audience is
it aimed at? What are the functions and intended audience
of my translation? What are the implications of these
factors? If a choice has to be made among them, which
ones should be given priority?'
Decisions of detail Reasoned decisions concerning the specific
problems of grammar, lexis (vocabulary), etc., encountered
in translating particular expressions in their particular
context. Decisions of detail can only be made in the light of
strategy. Naturally, however, problems of detail may arise
during translating which raise unforeseen strategic issues
and oblige the translator to refine the original strategy
somewhat.

With these terms in mind, the translation process can be broken
down into two types of activity: understanding an ST and
formulating a TT. These do not occur successively, but
simultaneously; indeed, one often does not even realize that one
has imperfectly understood the ST until coming up against a
problem in formulating the TT. When this happens, it may be
necessary to go back and reinterpret the ST in the light of one's
new understanding of it. This reinterpretation sometimes means
that the original strategy has to be revised, this revision in tum
entailing changes to some of the decisions of detail already
taken. Nevertheless, it is useful to discuss ST interpretation and
TT formulation as different, separable processes.

The component processes of translation are not different from
familiar things that all speakers and listeners do every day.
Comprehension and interpretation are processes that we all
perform whenever we listen to or read a piece of linguistically
imparted information. Understanding even the simplest message
potentially involves all our experiential baggage - the
knowledge, beliefs, suppositions, inferences and expectations
that are the stuff of personal, social and cultural life.
Understanding everyday messages is therefore not all that
different from what a translator does when first confronting an
ST E and it is certainly no less complicated.

In everyday communication, evidence that a message has been
understood may come from appropriate practical responses - for
example, if someone has asked you for a spoon, and you give
them a spoon and not a fork. Or it may come from an
appropriate linguistic response - such things as returning a
greeting correctly, answering a question satisfactorily, or filling
in a form. None of these are translation-like processes, but they
do show that the comprehension and interpretation stage of
translation involves a perfectly ordinary, everyday activity that
simply requires a standard command of the language used.

Arabic Passages for Translation
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English passages for translation
(1)
For any political party to succeed, it must be prepared to stand
up for freedom of expression and human rights, to protect the
weak, to oppose corruption, to set itself the highest standards,
and to act according to these standards. Any party which
supports and defends the people will find that it is supported and
defended by the people.

(2)
As the spokesman for the Council of Islamic Affairs in America
and America's greatest optimist, Dr Mahdi, puts it, 'The future
belongs to us' . When Arabs and Muslims used to tell him,
'That's impossible', his reply to these weak-willed characters
was 'With work and patience all things are possible'.

(3)
It is possible for any political party to succeed if it defends the
issue of freedom and human rights, if it embraces every unjustly
treated person, if it opposes corruption, if it sets the highest
standards in upright behaviour, if it changes words into deeds
and promises into facts. Every party which stands by the people
will find that the people stand by it, surrounding it when daggers
are aimed at its back and guns and swords at its front.

(4)
In the event of the declaration of martial l aw or a state of
emergency, a limited censorship on newspapers, pamphlets,
books and broadcasts in matters affecting public safety or
national defense may be imposed by law.

(5)
Dear Visitor,
This tourist brochure aims to introduce you to three Yemeni
provinces all of which lie within the inland desert region
between the southern and western Yemeni highlands. This area
was known historically as the Sayhad Desert and today is called
Ramlat al-Sabaatain.
This is the home of the ancient civilizations of Yemen which
flourished at the beginning of the first millennium BC on the
banks of the river valleys. The region enjoys a continental
climate - hot and dry in summer, and cold in winter.
In some areas the local people follow a Bedouin life-style. In
this part of the Republic of Yemen, a number of companies are
engaged in oil-drilling and oil-production. It is to be hoped that
the revenues from these activities will contribute to the
development of the country and the raising of living standards.

(6)
Competition
It's your shot
Your assignment
by Picture Editor 10 Map

Have you ever looked at a photograph taken in a magazine and
thought to yourself 'l could do that'? Well here's your chance.
We want you to send us a photograph taken by yourself - a
photograph that you think would be worthy of publishing in
Golden Falcon or featuring on the front cover. And, when our
judges have selected the best entry, that' s exactly what we will
do - publish it in the magazine or feature it on the cover.
Simply read the guidelines set out by our photography expert -
and get shooting.
We would like the photograph you send to have some kind of
relevance to the theme of travel and tourism
(%)

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The rule of the Conservatives was distinguished by its clearer
and more principled striving for the values of Western
capitalism and by their adoption of a gradual, total programme
in order to separate the state and the society; and the start of the
project of gradual relinquishing of/by the state of/from the task
of social care and the clearing of the way in front of the
movement of investment and capital by means of the reduction
of taxes. And Thatcher set off from an unyielding philosophical-
ideological conception with which she fought the unions and
broke their power; then she transferred the public properties of
the state in the great companies and converted them to the
private sector, and opened the door in front of the citizens to buy
their shares; and the policy of privatization covered more than
twenty large companies, including the iron-steel company, the
gas company, the electricity, the telephone, the oil, and the
airports. She also gave the renters of government houses the
right to buy and own their houses, and [she undertook] other
measures in which she forced the state to give up its properties
to the benefit of the citizens. And/So the result was that Britain
in the eighties witnessed an economic movement and a relative
revival, and the inpouring of foreign capital, and the conviction
of the British voter came into being of the tangible, direct
benefits of the rule of the Conservatives.
(19)
For any political party to succeed it must be prepared to stand
up for freedom of expression and human rights, to protect the
weak, to oppose corruption, to set itself the highest standards,
and to act according to these standards. Any party which
supports and defends the people will find that it is supported and
defended by the people.

(20)

(21)
Given that true history is the history of the masses, and that the
relationship between the Egyptian ruling class and the masses
has, in the vast majority of cases, been one of mutual suspicion,
then an objective evaluation of the Society of the Muslim
Brothers obliges us to trace the historical beginnings of the
group's policies and consequently its position vis-a-vis popular
issues on the one hand and the particular objectives of the ruling
classes on the other. Such an evaluation would also oblige us to
follow { the changing fortunes } of the Society in order to
elucidate the mystery which surrounds the successive episodes
in its history.
This phenomenal success was achieved without any {systematic
analysis} of issues, without extensive propaganda, or working
with the masses and without any organized recruitment: to be
reckoned a member it was simply enough for an individual to
sympathize with the Society's aim.
Thus, Hassan EI Banna came to assume total control over the
Muslim Brotherhood, adopting from Fascism the principle of
absolute obedience to the leader, and thereby concentrating all
power in himself. The oath which members of the Brotherhood
swore to EI Banna, pledged 'total commitment, loyalty, trust and
unswerving obedience, { in comfort and adversity, suffering and
joy }. This pledge was not, however, matched by any
corresponding commitment on EI Banna's part.
The four Salafiya schools were, however, incapable of
{refuting} the changes taking place in society { in any rational
or systematic way }, or of offering well-defined alternatives.
They were unable to confront and resist these changes, or to
justify and defend them.
The third confrontation between the Guide and the Brothers
occurred during the Palestine War of 1 948. A large number of
Brothers, many of them founder members, banded together
under the leadership of Ahmed Rifaat against the political
dealings of Hassan El Banna, accusing him of courting the
favour of the Palace and of weakness in his support for the
Palestinian people, restricting himself essentially to
propagandizing. They demanded the adoption of well-defined
policies both to challenge the government and to { provide real
military assistance } to the Palestinians.
Since the strong by their very nature did not accept blind
obedience to the Supreme Guide, the venerable Hasan El B
anna, and indeed, actively attempted to question some of his
judgements, he termed them 'malicious', and went so far as to
expel them from the Brotherhood. { As a result } the only
remaining members of El Banna's inner circle were those
whose extreme weakness meant that they were unable to oppose
him. { These people } he called 'the trustworthy'.
EI Banna refused to listen to the group and { crossed words }
several times with Rifaat. These exchanges always ended up
with more support for Rifaat and eventually, faced with Rifaat's
complete control of the General Headquarters
(22)
Intellectually, too, Egypt at the start of 1924 was subject to a
series of interrelated but opposing currents. The Russian
revolution of 1 9 1 7 had promoted socialist thinking, while the
Egyptian revolution of 1 9 1 9 had encouraged ideas of
pharaonic isolationism. Kemal Atarurk's abolition of the
Caliphate and establishment of a secular state in Turkey in 1922
had similarly encouraged the growth of secularism. In addition
the Egyptian University, which had been founded in 1909 with
the purpose of educating 'all the Egyptian people, regardless of
nationality, creed or ethnic group', and played a leading role in
the cultural and scientific development of the country, led to the
appearance and growth of rationalist as opposed to religious
interpretations of human and social problems. On the other
hand, calls for the incorporation of Egypt into western or
Mediterranean culture, which followed the absorption of foreign
capital by various social groups (a phenomenon supported by
the occupation authorities), were viewed by the average
Egyptian as tantamount to the abandonment of all moral values.
Similar results ensued from the encouragement given by the
occupation authorities to Christian missionary groups in their
efforts to break into Egyptian society and to convert Muslim
Egyptians to Christianity, whether through sincere concern, or
through deception and the exploitation of the poverty of the
great majority of the population.
(!)
Fathi al-Shaqaqi, the leader of the second largest Palestinian
fundamentalist organization after Hamas, was killed in Malta by
Mossad bullets. { A couple of days later} the Israeli Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin was killed by three bullets fired by
Yigal Amir, a Jewish extremist his grandchildren's age. { Mere
days after this } , a charge of dynamite of at least 100 kilograms
exploded in the Saudi National Guard barracks in Riyadh
claiming both American and Indian victims. { Days later} the
Egyptian trade attack to Switzerland was assassinated in
Geneva, and { this was followed by } a suicide bomb planted by
the Jihad organization in the Egyptian embassy building in the
Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
As with lexical item repetition, it will be seen that English tends
to go for variation in phrases, while Arabic frequently prefers
repetition.
(")

(#)
Unfortunately such concerns are not unique to Kosovo though.
We have seen struggles such as this in various countries. and
have witnessed similar scenes of madness caused by religious
fanaticism or extreme nationalism, but never on the scale which
we saw in Bosnia. And yet. now we see it again. with redoubled
force in Kosovo. whose population comprises some 90%
Muslims and whose natural right it is to demand some form of
self-government The Bosnians previously raised the issue of
independence in the past. but eventually accepted a modest form
of self-government at the Rambouillet talks.
(26)
The Saudi state regarded nationalism. democracy. socialism and
liberalism as imported ideas and thus evil works of Satan. It
characterized them as godless ideologies. and fought against
them by funding their opponents.
($)
It is possible for any political party to succeed if it defends the
issue of freedom and human rights, if it embraces every unjustly
treated person, if it opposes corruption, if it sets the highest
standards in upright behaviour, if it changes words into deeds
and promises into facts. Every party which stands by the people
will find that the people stand by it, surrounding it when daggers
are aimed at its back and guns and swords at its front.
(%)
In the event of the declaration of martial l aw or a state of
emergency, a limited censorship on newspapers, pamphlets,
books and broadcasts in matters affecting public safety or
national defence may be imposed by law.

General
Vocabulary



More Elections

A
Absentee Ballot
*+-.+/01 2135781 9.7.:- / <+>?./01 213571 9.7.:- /
A ballot used by voters who are unable to go to the polls
to vote, either because they are disabled or will be away
from the district on election day. Often it is mailed to the
voters and they must send it back to the board of elections
before Election Day. See Ballot.
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Absentee Voting / Ballot @-.+A 213571
A voting method by which people can cast their ballots
without going to the polling place on election day.
According to various state laws or constitutions, voters
have a time frame by which they can obtain a ballot before
the election, mark it, and then usually mail it, sealed, to
the appropriate election official.
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!"'/)*,$% .

Absolute Majority *BC:D *+>CAE
In most countries, an absolute majority is more than !"
per cent, but in some, to qualify for an absolute and not
just sim-ple majority, it is #"$.
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Accessibility FGIG01 *+J.KDM
The electorate, and its representatives, have full access to
the process during all its stages % campaigning,
registration, voting and counting % and have the ability to
reach all the voters by having sufficient means (funding)
and access.
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Additional Member System *+S.TU1 *,GVW01 X.YJ
Another term for a Mixed Member Proportional System.
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Adjudication
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The hearing and deciding of a legal case in a court of law.
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Administration Clerk h41PM i6.k
responsible for organizing materials for Polling Day and
assisting with post Polling day statutory requirements, in
addition to performing general adminis-tration and clerical
functions.
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Administrative Exclusion !"#$" %&'($"
Administrative exclusion occurs when people who are
ostensibly eligible to vote are not entitled to vote because
they have been left off the voters list. They may be
excluded, for example, simply by their own choice or
personal habits, or due to limitations of the system of voter
registration, such as a poorly pub-licized deadline for
completing the registration process.
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Advance Voting )*+', -#.,/ / 0"!,(" / -#., / 123/
Voting taking place in the days in the lead up to polling
day by voters who will not be able to vote on election day.
Also known as early voting, or advance polling.
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+"SG C&" 3"&<.$% C & J3)')(.*% e" Q.,$% 3"&<.$)' i$#8 j1= - C .
Advertisements 45&6#7" 896$"
A form of voter contact in which the campaign pays
to `have the mass media deliver the message. See
Message, Mass Media and Paid Media.

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Affiliated :3,;/ / -<;/
Associated with, or a member of, a political party or
political organization.
>,M*, &I 5/)"/ @7B 5D &RG &I J@7B 9$: C.*, /)"/ >" .

Alien/Non-Citizen 42;=> / 8?"+/ !*@ / !@ * :
Individuals living in a country who are not legal citizens of
the nation or of the state in which they reside.
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+"D !&,"Q" 5.$% >"&$% &I >$&-S$ ) .
Allocation of Seats A*'B, / #6&./7" C*D+,
Distribution of seats to political parties or candidates
according to votes received.
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)+"SG .
Alphabetical Voting .E+ )*+',7" F& =2G" :*,!,H7 #
In some elections the voters are required to make a set
number of choices. Many voters will make most of these
choices alphabetically as the candidates are list-ed on the
ballot, without any evaluation as to the candidates&
qualifications.
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Alternative Vote I*#27" )*+',7"
Under the Alternative Vote system you vote by showing
your preferences. This means putting each candidate in
order -from the candidate who you most want to win as
your 'st choice, to the candi-date who you least want to
win as your last choice.
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Amendment of Electoral Law 42&B,;J" 8+;&.7" I*#K,
A revision or change made in the elec-toral law and
regulations by formal pro-cedure.
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5,/1 .
Apathy, Voters LJ&2/J
A trend among some voters to lack of interest in voting,
politics, candidates, and other public issues.
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Apparentement
42&B,;" M7&N, / J" , )&2&B,;J" 4E 42DN7" #&N
A device used in some list proportional representation
systems which enables separate parties to declare
themselves linked for the purpose of seat allocation.
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Appropriation A*'B, ) I"+/G" / ( )"#&/,6J" #'!
Money used to pay for government-approved
expenditures.
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Approval Voting
K,/ )*+', # # / I+2.7" )*+', / 8&3N,3J" / O.E"+/7"
A single seat election method, which uses a majority of
lower choices. It is a voting procedure in which voters can
vote for, or approve of, as many candi-dates as they wish.
Each candidate approved of receives one vote, and the
candidate with the most votes wins.
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!, --G 1'8I @B)<& `'1" 3%&<A% .
At-Large 1&?;7" C3"+ / !*@ !+PN/
Candidates for certain types of offices may be elected to
represent certain geo-graphic areas within the jurisdiction,
such as a district or ward. Only the residents of the district
may vote for the office. But if a candidate is elected at-
large, he repre-sents the entire jurisdiction, and all voters
may vote for the office.
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<"& J)+S8 P.Q4*, & ;8 3 @<*,S$ !"G1.Q,$% .

At-Large District 1&?;7" OK3"+ L!5"#
A district often with sub districts in it or where more than
one candidate shares the same district. A mayor may run
(at-large) while the city council members run in districts.
See Multi Mandate.
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At-large Plurality
K, # "+ # 3 C / )*+', OH,Q7" / > OH/&R O*2H@
Attitudes M("+/
This describes how the voters feel going into the election -
either satisfied or angry, feeling better off or worse off,
etc
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Audit (Electoral)
O*;+;&.7" OK="!/7" / 42&B,;J" !&3/H7 / 3&N/7" O*2&B,;J" O2
The independent examination of records and activities to
ensure compliance with established controls, policy, and
opera-tional procedures, and to recommend any indicated
changes in controls, poli-cy, or procedures.
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J>"#"^*.$% 3%c%1?b%& )+"D >BR%& 3%1""H. OI ;&B 3)"<&. C"-Q.$& .

B
Balanced Budget O;D"+,/ O;D"+/
A financial condition whereby any level of government
spends as much money as it takes in, mainly from taxes
and other revenue sources.
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1-)<,& @F%1R$% \1(I 3%-F)G .

Ballot /Ballot Paper
:&B,;" O(!+ / O(!+ 0"!,(" / !,(" O(&?2 " 0
The official document voters will use to cast their vote,
thus making their choices known.
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;K( !, 5')(.*% P.&< P.%1)"( !"&-. .
Ballot Box 0"!,(J" 1+#;'
Container into which the voters place their ballot papers.
"D gR" N&-*< P 0%1.2% N%1&I !&'()*$% .
Ballot Initiative S"!,(" / )*+',7" L!#&2/
Also called a ballot measure, referendum or proposition. A
ballot initiative is a proposed piece of legislation (a law)
that people can vote on.
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3"&<.$% . q%1.2% !G E1)'G &6& "1U. g ) !&*)2 0&1U, &I ( 01.Q" !I !8,"
@=U$% P*kU' .

Ballot Placement ON597" TH6 C<+/7" O*2&B,;J"
This is the place where the candidate&s name appears on
the ballot. If there are a lot of candidates on the ballot or it
is otherwise long, voters will often not read all the way
down the list, thus giving candidates with a higher
placement a better chance.
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;RDI .

Ballot Structure )*+',7" ON5J O*;2/ O(!+ 0"!,(J"
The kinds of choices voters can make on a ballot. The
range of choices includes: marking a single choice for
party or can-didate, indicating a set of preferences, or
weighting choices by ranking candidates.
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J3%1)".(% >SR^,$% 3%1)".(K$ %1)+M: !"BU1,$% @".1. &I .
Ballot Tampering/ Vote Tampering 9, 6 :
)"+'G&2
Deliberately spoiling the paper ballots of the voters one
seeks to Disenfranchise.
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Balloting )*+',7" / 0"!,(J"
See Voting
@)(.*% 1M*% / 0%1.2% / &<. " 3 .
Baseline Poll
7" 09?,3" ?B #6&.7" / 43&3> 09?,3" / > 09?,3" + 47
A political poll taken to determine as much information
about the voters as possible, usually done early in the
campaign before there is much political activity. See
Political Poll and Tracking Poll.
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4)U* )+ 5/)"/$% . 0K4./%& 5/)"/$% 0K4./% 1M*I >=').,$% / % NB 0K4./ /
% 5'Q=. 0K4./ .
Bias D*N,
A leaning in favor of or against some-thing or someone;
partiality or prejudice.
, " &I Jf(U &I c9U ;"R^. &I ; 7)"B*% -R E)')B, Jn ;,)B. &I .
Bicameral Parliament
I*U/,7" 45&;U 8&/7!2 / 8*3H=/2 8&/7!2
In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two
legislative or par-liamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral
parliament or bicameral legislature is a parliament or
legislature which consists of two Chambers or Houses.
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Bill 8+;&( 0+!R/
Proposed act not yet passed by Parliament.
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Bipartisan V/ * 8*2DN 8/ # / HK,/ 8*2DN2 1
Consisting of, or supported by, members of two parties,
especially two major political parties.
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-K'$% .
Birth Registry O*'BR7" I"+NG" I=3 / )"#J+7" I=3
Official records or certificates of peo-ple's births, or where
these records are kept. In some countries it is necessary
to produce an official copy of one's birth certificate to
prove citizenship or voting eligibility.
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!, 0%1.2% NB &I >"/*?$% 3)'Wb -K",$% E-)+U .

Blank Ballot W&*2 TH6 O(&?2/ %&<*2 O(!+
A blank ballot is simply that no mark is made on the ballot,
meaning that the voter did not vote for any of the
candi-dates on the ballot, nor did they vote for or against a
proposition on the ballot.
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<" C$& Ù1, OA P.&<' & OA 3 >21&$% 9SG q%1.2% OI -R &I q%1.2% .

Blanket Primary 7+> )&2&B,;" * OH/&R O
A primary election in which the names of all the
candidates for all the parties are on one ballot.
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E-B%& 0%1.2% .
Blind Pull T/6G" :N37"
In areas where there is considerable sup-port for the
candidate - say six out of ten voters support the candidate
- it may benefit the campaign if as many voters as
possible go to the polls, regardless of whether or not the
supporters have been identified. If everyone in an area is
encouraged to vote, then this is consid-ered a (blind pull)
to the polls. See GOTV and Pull.
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.Block Vote/ Bloc Vote !,(" " +H,Q 0 / OH,Q )*+',
A multi-seat election method. A system of voting in multi-
member districts. Each elector is given as many votes as
there are seats (e.g., in a legislative body) to be filled, and
in most cases the electors are free to vote for individual
candidates regardless of party affilia-tion. In most bloc
vote systems the elec-tors may use as many or as few of
their votes as they wish. In First Past the Post bloc voting
systems, the candidates with the most votes win--an
absolute majori-ty is not required. Also known as At-Large
Plurality
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>QS4,$% . j1=" -=.$)' )R"I - g/%&$% .
Board of Elections )&2&B,;J" O5*X
Usually a non-partisan board or multi-partisan board set
up to oversee the elec-tion and make sure that it is
conducted fairly. See Election Commission.
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Borda Count 6 # "#!+2
A voting system for single or multiple seat elections
using rank preference ballots.
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@".1.$)' 3%1)".(% gR. ;R^,$% .
Booth Capturing 7" 3 )"!*=N TH6 L!?* !,(J" " 0
The act of seizing and controlling a polling station so that
many fraudulent votes may be cast there (this term is
used in India).
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E1"W8 >"$)".B% ) %#6 C-(./" -*+$% 5D `S4<,$% (.
Booth Management !,(J" )"!*=N L!"#Y " 0
Managing the booths in the polling station.
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Bottleneck OH(!6
The term used to describe the individual, place or position
that causes the flow of information or other activities to
slow down or halt.
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>4U*A% &I 3),&S=,$% )+=*, &I \1(A% .
Bottoms Up IZ3G" 8/ :&B,;J" L#&6Y
A multi-seat election method. The same as Instant Runoff
Voting except runoff cycles stop when number of
remaining candidates is equal to the number of seats to
be filled.
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!"2)'$% -G)Q,$% --=$ )"&)/, E1L)U$% .
Boundary (Electoral) O*2&B,;J" !5"+#7" #+#N
Something that marks an electoral limit or border.
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Boundary Delimitation I'&Z7" #*#N,
The process of drawing boundaries of constituencies for
allocation of seats. Also known as Districting.
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>"')(.*% .
Budget O;D"+/7"
The budget usually refers to the amount of money you
expect to spend on vari-ous aspects of the campaign. You
should also figure out how many people are needed to
accomplish each task and how long each task will take. In
this way you will also be budgeting your time and people
resources as well.
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>*7%&,$% -%-G: -1&,$ 1U'$%& !,7$% O .
Butterfly Ballot !,(" O(!+ " OR"!E IQR2 0
A type of paper ballot in which the actu-al voting is done
by the central fold of a two-page, pamphlet-like ballot (the
two open pages are like a butterfly&s wings; the voting is
done where the butterfly&s body would be).
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By-Election O*6!E )&2&B,;"/ O*H*/Q,
An election not held at the usually scheduled time, often to
fill a vacancy in the office. There is often much lower voter
turnout in a special or by-election. See Special Election.
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3)')(.*% ><)($% .
By-Law 4HB"# -&P;
A law or rule governing the internal affairs of an
organization; or a second-ary law.
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C
Calendar Of Events (Administrative)
-*+., ["#NG" ) !"#Y * O ( D+! ["#NG" O/&;
Structured sequence of tasks leading to the
announcement of the successful party or candidates. It
provides the key milestone and tasks that must be
completed to ensure that the election takes place in an
organized manner.
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)61"/ !/B !),R$ .
Campaign O*2&B,;" OH/N
Political activity, including meetings, rallies, speeches,
demonstrations, parades, other events, and the use of the
media, intended to inform the electorate of the platform of
a particular candidate or political party and to gather
support.
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5/)"/ @7B &I Ù1,$ N"=, s,)*1' !G >'()*$% CG-$% @)/.8& .

Campaign Calendar
OH/NH7 4;/D I=3 / O*;+;&.7" L!,Z7" / D+! OH/N7" O/&;
The calendar used to schedule events and voter contact in
the campaign. This should be a master calendar with the
final say of what goes on in the campaign ((if it&s not on
the calendar, it&s not happening)). Often there is a large,
public version (and therefore less complete) hanging on
the wall.
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Campaign Committee OH/N7" O;=7
Often this is the decision making group in the campaign
made up of the key advisors to the candidate; this
committee could also provide financial assistance to
candidates, in addition to its strategic support. See
Campaign Team.
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9$: >D)R: 5?".%1./% )+,G- . 1D 1M*% " >S,B$% N .

Campaign Contributions
OH/N7" 4E )&/X&3/ / OH/NH7 )&6!2,
Donations to political campaigns from the candidates'
supporters.
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Campaign Finance Reform
I*+/, ?+!R S9'Y )9/N7"
A movement to restrict the amount of money that
individuals and interest groups can contribute to political
cam-paigns.
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>"')(.*% 3K,BS$ .
Campaign Literature OH/N7" )&*2#>
Printed campaign material used to inform potential voters
about the candidate and persuade them to vote for the
candidate.
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b JÙ1,$% P$ 3"&<.$)' C+G)*2 .
Campaign Manager OH/N7" !*#/
The person responsible for overseeing the strategic
development and the day-to-day running of the campaign.
The candidate cannot be the campaign manager.
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>S,B$% c%1?b . & >S,B$% E1%-: 5$&. Ù1,S$ !8," .
Campaign Period O*2&B,;J" OH/N7" L#/
Period of time, defined by law, within which candidates
may conduct cam-paign activities and election
propaganda.
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Campaign Plan OH/N7" O?B
The written document bringing together the important
research, the targeting, the message and the strategy of
the cam-paign. This should be drafted at the beginning of
the campaign and provide a step-by-step outline of how
the cam-paign will get to Election Day.
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Campaign Professionals OH/N7" +E!,N/
People who have experience working in many past
campaigns and are often paid to work on campaigns.
These people understand the fundamentals of cam-paign
development, such as raising money, formulating a
campaign mes-sage, working with the media and
target-ing and persuading voters.
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C+$ gD-"& 1&?I % ;,=S$ >S,B$% 5D . cV6& f)(UA% >4( gR& o/I !&81-"
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j%-+./%& JCKGb% ;F)/& b !"'()*$% C+G)*2 .
Campaign Resources OH/N7" #!"+/
The money, time, information and vol-unteer help a
campaign has access to.
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Q" 5.$% - !&G&4.,$% )+, .
Campaign Team OH/N7" 1*!E
Often this is the decision making group in the campaign
made up of the key advisors to the candidate. In some
cases the campaign team maybe the Campaign
Committee plus the campaign staff. See Campaign
Committee.
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Ù1,S$ . -2 3)B$% l=' 5D& )+"D !"S,)=$% ;8& >S,B$% >*?$ >S,B$% N"1D CR" .
>S,B$% >*?$ 1M*% .
Candidate \R!/7"
This is the person running for a particu-lar elected
position. The role of the can-didate is to meet voters and
potential donors to the campaign and persuade them to
support the candidate. The can-didate cannot be the
campaign manager, responsible for the strategic
develop-ment and day to day running of the cam-paign.
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!"'()*$% >S')Q, 9SG ;,=$% >S,BS$ 3)G1'.$% C"-Q.$ !"S,.B,$% !",6)/,$%& :& C+G)*2
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&4. !G ;&V/,$% 1" 3)"?".%1./% ",&"$% !&VU$%& >S,B$% 1"/$ > .
Candidate Research \R!/7" [N2
Candidate research is all the informa-tion, both good and
bad, that your cam-paign can put together on your
candi-date. This is part of the overall research that should
be done at the beginning of the campaign. See Research.
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d)B'A% !, %c7? i$# ;W,"& %1?: 5H'*" 5.$% V >S,B$% ;+./, 5D )6 . 1M*%
dB'$% .

Candidatels Agent
\R!/7" I*Q+ / \R!/7" :+#;/ / \R!/7" IU//
A representative of a candidate who may be present
during the voting and during the count.
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Candidatels Offical Agent 4/3!7" \R!/7" I*Q+
A person designated by a candidate to be responsible for
the financial manage-ment of his campaign, the
application of relevant financial rules and the comple-tion
of the statutory reports.
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& J>'/)*,$% >"$),$% : 1"1)Q.$% C),. >"*&*)Q$% .
Canvass M"+?
This is a type of voter contact in which the candidate or
volunteers go from one house or apartment to another,
talking directly to voters. When done by the candidate, this
is one of the most persua-sive methods of winning votes,
though it is time and labor intensive. aka Door-to-Door.
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!"^W8, .

Casting a Vote )+'2 %J#Y/ )*+', / " !,( " 0
The act of putting a ballot in a ballot box, or the act of
recording a preference for a certain motion or candidate.
;=D &I J0%1.2% N&-*< 5D 0%1.2% >21& gR& >"S,G Ù1, ;"R^. ;"?/.
q%1.2% &I .
Categorical Ballot C?&( )*+',
Form of ballot in which only a single choice for a candidate
or party can be made.
: 1)".()' `,/" 3"&<.$% ;)8UI !, ;8U &6 -B%& @7B &I Ù1, .
Caucus
O*2&B,;" O*K/= / /*P;, O*2DN O;=7 * O / 42DN 42&B,;" 0&/,="
A meeting of party leaders and/or sup-porters, the
purpose of which may be to show unity for a particular
issue (usual-ly held privately) or to select a candidate for
office. A group within a legislative or decision-making body
seeking to represent a spe-cific interest or influence a
particular area of policy. Chiefly British, a com-mittee
within a political party charged with determining policy.
& N"=, @7B E-)Q$ 0),.?% / C+,G- 1)+Mb P"1<)*, &I ,$% & B, >"RQ$ -B - E-
) '$)L ) ><)( >/S? !,R ( &I @<*,$ Ù1, c)Q.* . C/? !,R >G&,?,
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>*"=, . (A% 9SG f >*?$ 56 J)"*)4"1' 5D 8, 5/)"/ @7B !,R S >^ -"-B.'
>/)"/$% .
Caucus-Style Election !*@ )&2&B,;J" ]^; L!R&2/7"
Process whereby small groups select representatives
who, in turn, choose people to serve in a given
Government.
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,-(S$ ,&8B 5D > > >*"=, .
Central Election Commission
_H=/7" / " DQ!/7" O;=H7 * O )&2&B,;97
Highest body of electoral administration.
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Certifying Election Results ]5&,; TH6 1*#',7"
!,(J" " 0
Once the actual election is over there are still a few things
that need to occur to finalize it. The election is not
completed until after it is certified and elected can-didates
qualify and take office. Though protections are in place to
guarantee a voter&s privacy, the various administra-tive
steps in the election process are public. This means
anyone interested in being present for the preliminary
count or certification of the count can be, and the public
must be provided notice of when these actions will occur
so that anyone interested may attend.
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: 3)')(.*% N"-<.$% -=' C6-G)Q, !"'(.*,$% #(I& )+"SG . I g,& P* 1&,I -?&.
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@?"& )+"SG N"-<.$%& 71^$% 7" !I & n#6 ;&"21& ><)<2 56 . QW J>"')(.*% >2)4'$% !, @ >4/%&' a >'2)W >$ .
Challenge/ Claims (Electoral) n135[1 / <Wo
A calling into question, especially a questioning of validity
or legality of the election results.
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Characteristics of Message )&/3 O7&3!7"
A campaign message must be short, truthful and credible,
persuasive and important to voters, show contrast with the
opposition, speak to the heart, be tar-geted and repeated
again and again.
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g, !")'.$% `R&.& @SQ$% @4)(.& J!"/D)*,$% ) !%-?&$% ( >D-+./,& J ,F%- 118.& ) .

Chief Electoral Officer +/ _*5! P D&^=7" 4Z 42&B,;J"
An individual who introduces and reviews the
management structure that reflects the particular needs of
the coun-try in delivering effective electoral administration.
Also see Electoral Management Body.
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>"')(.*% E1%-b% !",). 5D ^$% = >$) . R"I E-&=$% ) 3)')(.*% E1%-: 7)+? 9$: .
Choice Elimination N )"!&*,BJ" M`
The elimination of a Low Series of can-didates before the
transfer of surplus votes in a Full Choice election.
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)')(.*% 3 1)".(% `".. % K,)8 .
Choice Runoff 7" # O/3&N7" L!+ )"!&*,B97
See Single Transferable Vote.
0%1.2% 1M*% / 1""?.S$ ;')2 O-1D 3&< .
Choice Selection )"!&*,BJ" #*#N,
The ranked choices made by each elec-tor. The voter
would only have a single vote, but the voter would be
allowed to rank a list of choices of his preferred
candidates. This list would be attached to his single vote.
The vote belongs to the first candidate on this list.
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S$ NB" * , : 0%1.2% @() 1 E $% !, >BF j"*<. P*)8,T' !8$ JE-B%& 3%1)"(
;,U. !"SR^,$% P"BU1, . J-"B&$% P.&<' >BFK$% n#6 ND1.D P.&< -&=" d"B
A% Ù1,S$ & iS. 9SG 1&8#,$% ; >BFK$% .
Choice Transfer 7" !**=, *B )"!&
The transfer of surplus votes from lead-ing candidates.
The single vote that the voter cast is transferable at times,
in part or whole, to another candidate under certain
conditions. After all Surplus Votes have been transferred
the Choice Run-Off part of Choice Voting would be put
into operation.
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$% >SB1, I-'. J>RF)^$% $% E1&- !, >,/)B $% . &< " $% 9SG 3 ( 3%1)" .
Choice Voting )"!&*B7" TH6 )*+',7"
See Single Transferable Vote.
0%1.2% 1M*% / 1""?.S$ ;')2 O-1D 3&< .
8?"+/ - Citizen
An individual who is a naturalized or native-born Resident
of a state, dis-plays allegiance to that state&s political and
legal authority, and who is there-fore entitled to the rights
and protec-tions of its laws.
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&6& J>"G1U$% >4S/$% &I (, i$#' & )+"D >"*&*)Q$% >"),B$%& )+2&QB' ; .
Citizen Initiative 8?"+/7" L!#&2/
A mechanism which enables voters to place legislative
issues on the ballot or in front of their legislature.
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>"="1U.$% C+.)F"6 .
Citizen-Based Coverage O*;2/ O*/96Y O*?a, 8?"+/7"
Reporters interview citizens to attempt to measure their
thoughts on political issues during a campaign. Reporters
should also try to cover the important issues (as
determined by speaking to cit-izens and conducting focus
groups) repetitiously, to insure that readers and viewers
have a good chance of coming across the coverage.
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"S=D a ) )")RQ$% 5D C+F%1 >"')(.*% >"S,=$% ;K( >"/)"/$% . !"S/%1,$% 9SG
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QS$ >"4H.S$ E-"? ><1D !),R$ J1%18.' 1 c% !"-6)U,$%& .
Civic Education O*;#/7" O*2!,7"
Educational program aiming to pro-mote political
awareness understand-ing and knowledge of the rights
and responsibilities of the citizens.
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!"*4%&,$% 3)"$&V/,& .
Civic Journalism O;?"+/7" OE&N'7"/ HXG" * O / " #/7 ;* O
Civic journalism is an effort to reach out to the public more
aggressively in the reporting process, to listen to how
citizens frame their problems and what citizens see as
solutions to those prob-lems. This information is then used
to enrich news stories. Civic journalism is practiced by
newspapers and radio and television stations in many
parts around the world.
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-K'$% !, 1"W8 5D >$&%-., .
Civil Society 4;#/7" C/,=/7"
It consists of a range of associations and membership
organizations that bring citizens together to act in a
polit-ical and policy realms.
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!%-",$% 5D i1B.S$ 3)/)"/$% gR& !%-",& 5/)"/$% .
Claims # &?/ bc+6 27 bO Y %&6#
Complaints regarding decisions or lack of action
presented by different elec-toral actors. See also
Challenge, Dispute.
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9$: 1M*% l%1.G% / 0%7*& !=4 / E1&)B, .
Closed List ?8 *e / *BC/D *^?.7
A form of List PR in which electors are restricted to voting
only for a party or political grouping, and cannot express a
preference for any candidate within a party list.
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)' 4QD 3&<$ B$ 7 @ &I >G&,?,$ / " /) " $% C+*8," & J> OA ;"R^. !G 1"'=.
Ù1, !,R !"=, B >BF "'7 >
Closed Primary *BC/D *+0HE 9.-.N5J1
Primary election in which only a politi-cal party&s members
may vote on its nominees.
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$ P"BU1,
Coalition pq5?1
The alliance of the forces of two or more groups or
political parties to form the government.
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Coalition Government pq5?1 *DGKd
Coalition Government is a Government created from more
than one political party. It is sometimes (but not always)
created when no single party has gained an overall
majority in a General Election. Two or more parties may
then agree to govern together.
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G * " ),- ^ & 1 B OI 7 @ B%& - >,)=$% 3)')(.*% 5D >"1W8A)' . N^." ),-*G B !)'7
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Coalition of Results r?.5]01 rDP / r?.5]01 pq5?1
The transmission of results from a par-ticular polling site to
the next level to be collated with other results to give the
outcome for a wider area to establish the overall national
results.
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A% ( 9SG ;&<BS$ J\1 sF).* >Q4*,$% & Jg/&A% # $% c)/1b i$ sF).* *4&$% >"
>,)=$% .
Coalition/ Alliance of Parties pq5?1 / j1sdt1 u0.N6
Association of two or more political par-ties constituting a
joint force for the pur-pose of contesting an election or
form-ing a government.

. g,? B !"'7 / " ) ""/ ! $ 1W8I &I . 4S$ E-B., E&2 ;"8U 5D != % (.* ) )' $ &I 3 . 8U " ;
>,&8B
Coattails vw3D F.,xE
An allusion to the rear panels ((tails)) of a gentleman&s
frock coat. In American politics, it refers to the ability of a
popu-lar officeholder or candidate for office, on the
strength of his or her own popu-larity, to increase the
chances for victo-ry of other candidates of the same
polit-ical party. This candidate is said to carry others to
victory (on his coattails.
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>/)"/$% 5D `S4<,$% "81",A% > , @B)< E1-2 9$: * < @ / " ) / "=, 5 ! &I U1, `
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a ( "1 ! , !, " P$)"#k' %&QS=. " 7&^$% 9$: .
Code of Conduct `^W01 y.z+D / `^W01 =GJ.7 / `^W01 |[1G7
A set of general rules of behaviour for political parties and
their supporters relating to their participation in an
elec-tion process, to which parties ideally will voluntarily
agree and which may, subsequent to that agreement be
incor-porated in law. Proclaims guidelines of behaviour
and standards that are diffi-cult to embody in a statute.
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Code of Ethics 7" :"#d #6"+( / ;^ O
See Code of Conduct.
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Coefficient/ Electoral Quotient
/ /&K I / ,;J" O23;7" O*2&B / N7" & ' ,;J" I 2&B 4
Calculated for each district by dividing the number of valid
votes cast by the number of seats allocated to the district.
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E1F%- ;8$ ><<(,$%
Coffees L+^.7" )&3H= / c&R7"
These are events in the home of a volun-teer or supporter
where their friends are able to meet the candidate. These
have the advantage of face-to-face contact with the
candidate, the most persuasive form of voter contact.
Coffees can also be used for small donor fundraising.
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& Ù1,$% ? )+ $ & ? P . #8 /% !8," i$ (. g,?$ )+,%- $% '. 1 G !, 3) H< 1)
",6)/,$% ! .
Collateral Group 7" O;/&<,/7" )&6&/=
A demographic group similar to or hav-ing similar interests
to another demo-graphic group. For example, teachers
may share an interest in improving edu-cation with
mothers. Teachers and moth-ers would be collateral
groups.
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I ( \1 . D 9S= "'/ ,$% ; W &8" -2 J;) $ ! S -, /1 !" , `$)<, .U A% g, >81 )+, 3
.$ "/B ! $% =. C"S . $ # Ji$ e" = - 3)G&,?,$% !, 3)+,A%& !&/1-,$% ,$% >*,)R. .
Commission O;=7
A formal group of experts brought together on a regular or
ad hoc basis to debate matters within that sphere of
expertise, and with regulatory or quasi-judicial powers
such as the ability to license activity in the sphere of
activity or to subpoena witnesses. Commissions usually
also have advisory powers to government. The
organizational form of a commission is often resorted to by
governments to exhaustively investigate a matter of
national concern, and is often known as a (commission of
inquiry.) This legal structure can be contrasted with a
council, the latter not enjoying quasi-judicial or regulatory
powers.
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, $k/ *4& > >" J j1=" 6 # % " >*?S' N"QB.$% " )Q, !8,,$% !, ' 6 >S # $% % . 81 " @ $% Q ) *&* 5
oS?, >,S8 g, P'U$% #&^*$)' g.,.. 9.$% 5S"-=.$% &I 5F)RQ$% .
Communal Representation 7" I*U/,7" T6&/=
seats are not only divided on a commu-nal basis, but the
entire system of parlia-mentary representation is similarly
based on communal considerations. This usually means
that each defined com-munity has its own electoral roll,
and elects only members of its (own group) to Parliament.
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.=" 9SG )R"I -, >"G),? 3%1)'.G% . 9*="& 6 # % E--B, >G),? ;8$ !I E-)G
)+S?/ / 4QD @(.*.& 9G),?$% )+$&-? GI R c) !, " , ? G&, . )+ " ,S$ ? S 9')"*$% o .
Communal Roll I+#= / I=3 &/= 46
A register of voters in which ascriptive criteria such as
race or ethnicity deter-mine which electors can enroll to
vote, and which candidates can be elected, within the
wider electoral contest.
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!8,,$% g/&A% >"')(.*% >/D)*,$% !,R C+')(.*% .

Compensatory Seats #6&./7" +K,7" <* O*
The List Proportional Representation seats in a mixed
member proportional system which are awarded to parties
on the basis of their proportion of the national vote and
designed to correct any disproportionality in the results of
the elections held in plurality-majority dis-trict seats.
$% >BF -G)Q, 56 . , W ;" 5D 9'/*$% >"&R=$% C)M* % $ 9'/* (,$% . J4S `*,. 5$:
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$% =. - - >" .
Competitive Election ,;" &;, :&B 43E
Meaning that at least two parties present alternative sets
of candidates.
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Complementary Election ,;" )&2&B O//,/
See By-Election.
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Compulsory Voting +', * 4/"D7Y )
Voting is compulsory, in some coun-tries, which means
that if you do not vote and do not have a valid and
suffi-cient reason for failing to vote, you may be fined.
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$% 3"&<. )2 * & "* .,% ),*: J) !G 3=* $% !&-' 3"&<. / ' )8 @ D j u. -Q 1H' @2)= >,%
, $) " > .
Confirmation Date e, f*!&, #*Q
In respect of an election in an electoral district, the date for
the commencement of the preparation of the preliminary
lists of electors for that election.
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% ,$ >"$&A% !"'(.* +$ % n# 3)')(.* .
Congressional Districts (CD)
_!a;+Q7" !5"+# / K7" !5"+#7" &*H
These are political divisions within a state, the boundaries
of which are drawn-up by the state legislature. One
member of the national House of Representatives is
elected per district.
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Conservative PE&N/
An individual with a political philosophy supporting
conserving heritage, tradi-tional values or an established
social order. He does not reject change but insists that
further change be organic rather than revolutionary. See
Liberal.
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Consolidation of Democracy
DDK, / f*3!, / g&/#Y O*?"!./*#7"
The consolidation of democracy is the process by which
democracy becomes so broadly and profoundly
legitimatised among its citizens that it is very unlike-ly to
break down. When democracy is consolidated, it has been
accepted by most citizens as the only game in town. The
consolidation of democracy involves behavioral and
institutional changes that normalize democratic poli-tics
and narrow its uncertainty. This nor-malization requires
the expansion of cit-izen access, development of
democratic citizenship and culture, broadening of
leadership recruitment of a mature civil society and more
importantly, political institutionalization. Consolidation
requires that habituation to the norms and procedures of
demo-cratic conflict regulation be developed. A high
degree of institutional routinization is key to such process.
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Constant Campaign OH/N / !/,3 L / O/5"# / "+,/ OH'
The concept that the candidate and the party are always
working for the next election and do not wait for election
time to start delivering a message.
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Constituency (1) !+^/= &;7" *2B 8
A portion of the population represented by a particular
elected leader or organization.
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Constituency (2) ,;" L!5"# O*2&B
The electoral division or area, or the peo-ple in it, which a
member of Parliament represents.
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Constituent :B&;
A citizen who lives in a legislator&s area of representation.
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Constitution !+,3#
Set of basic rules by which the govern-ment of a State is
organized regulating the relationships between the
legislature, the executive and the judiciary.
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Contestation 8K?
An administrative or any other objection to activities and
decisions of an electoral nature or to the electoral
processes and results.
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Contiguous Districts !+&=,/ !5"+# L
Districts comprised of areas which are geographically
adjoined or touching.
- 56 )"D%1H? >"#)B., &I >Q<K., N4)*, !, >*&8, 1F%&
Contrast 8*&2,
Using the campaign message to demon-strate the
difference between candidates when they are compared
with each other. It is important to give the voters a clear
choice. See Credibility and Message.
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Contributions )&/X&3/
See Campaign Contributions.
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Convention !/,V/ ] *R!,7" 896Y )&N [
A meeting of party delegates and leaders at any of the
three levels of government (federal, state, local) in order to
formu-late party strategy and tactics while also nominating
candidates for political office. In addition, the party
platform is written and approved, detailing where the party
(stands) on the important issues of the upcoming
campaign.
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Convention Bounce !/,V/ LDZ( ) 896Y !,7" *R )&N (
An increase in a presidential candidate&s popularity, as
indicated by public-opin-ion polls, in the days immediately
fol-lowing his or her nomination for office at the national
convention.
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Corrected Voterls List
5J ON N'/7" 8*2B&;7" ON / I=3 N'/7" 8*2B&;7" \ / 5"+7 \
7" :?R7" / ' N ON
After a copy of the preliminary register of voters is publicly
displayed at the actual registration centre for claims and
objections, corrections are made and the final voter
register for each state and each local government area
and ward should be displayed for public scrutiny. The final
corrected voter list should be produced and made public
at a relative-ly early date, usually specified, before the
elections.
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Council _H=/
The local body that operates from the town hall to raise
local taxes and admin-ister local services. A formal group
of experts brought together on a regular basis to debate
matters within that sphere of expertise, and with advisory
powers to government. It can be con-trasted with a
commission which, although also a body of experts, is
typi-cally given regulatory powers in addi-tion to a role as
advisor to the govern-ment.
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Count D!E / 6 # / %&'NY
The process of sorting, tallying, record-ing and tabulating
of votes cast in an election.
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Counting Centre Q!/ D / D!E / 6 # / %&'NY )"+'G"
A centralized premise in which votes from several polling
stations are aggre-gated and counted.
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Created Events 1HB )&23&;/7" / 7" ["#NG" /&K O
Any attempt by the campaign to bring together a large
group of people. Generally people brought together by the
campaign will already be supporters, but the event may
receive press cover-age and thereby influence other
voters. Created events can also be used to raise funds
and energize supporters. See Preset Events.
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Credibility 7" / #' " ( * O
The positive or negative view voters have of a candidate
or party. By creat-ing contrast, campaigns can use their
message to raise their candidate&s credi-bility, lower their
opponents& credibility or both. See Contrast and Message.
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Cross Cutting Cleavages R;J" )&(&. /7" , OHB"#
Political allegiances of voters which cut across societal
cleavages of ethnicity, religion, or class.
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Cross Tabs N9/ P )& ,/ OK?&.
[Comparing or referencing various responses to questions
on a political poll with responses to other questions or
demographic information. The real infor-mation in a
political poll comes from the cross tabs. See Political Poll.
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Cross-Sets 5"!R \ ,/ OK?&.
Small groupings within the demographic breakdown that
are members of at least two other demographic sets.
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Cumulative Voting +', * 4/Q"!, ) / Q,/ # _ / 4K/=
A system of voting in which each voter is given as many
votes as there are posi-tions to be filled and allowed to
cast those votes for one candidate or distrib-ute them in
any way among the candi-dates. It is a system of
Proportional Representation in which minorities can
ensure their approximate proportional representation by
concentrating their votes on a subset of candidates
com-mensurate with their size in the elec-torate.
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D
Dark Horse N &' #+3> 8
A usually little-known candidate who unexpectedly wins a
party&s nomination.
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Data Bank 7" h;2 / /+HK & ) / / 2 8DN )&;&*
A tape or disc on which the names of electors may be
stored for later use.
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Debate &;/ )"!P / )&R(&;/
Face-to-face discussion between or among candidates on
the issues, their qualifications, leadership abilities, and
voting records. Debates can occur at all three levels of
government, but the most publicized on the national level
are debates involving the presidential nomi-nees. These
debates are televised, can involve questions from
journalists and average citizens, and will reach millions of
voters at one time. A presidential candidate who performs
poorly on these national telecasts can lose voter support.
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Declaration of Poll J" O=*,; 896Y :&B,;
An announcement of the result of an election by a district
Returning Officer declaring the successful candidate as
the elected member.
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Declaration Votes 7" )"+'G" / ' N! O
Votes that are sealed in an envelope signed by the voter.
These votes are cast when: the voter casts an absent or
postal vote; the voter&s name cannot be found on the
electoral roll; the voter&s name is marked off the electoral
roll as already having voted.
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Declined Ballot ?2 )&(& O<+E!/ / !*@ OH/K,3/
An elector who has received a ballot and returns it to the
deputy returning officer declining to vote, forfeits the right
to vote and the deputy returning officer shall immediately
write the word (declined) upon the back of the ballot and
preserve it to be returned to the returning officer and shall
cause an entry to be made in the poll record that the
elector declined to vote.
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$% . &< " 3 .

Delegate #E+7" +<6 / :+#;/
A representative, usually chosen either in state caucuses
or presidential primar-ies, who will be responsible for
choos-ing presidential and vice presidential nominees at
the national party conven-tions every four years. Most
delegates are pledged to support a specific candi-date. A
majority of the delegates& votes at the convention is
needed for a presi-dential candidate to receive the party&s
nomination.
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Delimitation #+#N7" -3!
See Districting.
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Democracy O*?"!./*#
Political system where the people share in directing the
activities of the state, as distinct from governments
controlled by a single class, select group, or autocrat. The
definition of democracy has been expanded to describe a
philosophy that insists on the right and the capacity of a
people, acting either directly or through representatives, to
control their institu-tions for their own purposes.
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Democratic Consolidation
&/, h3 / #*N+, / ]/# / T?"!./*# #*?+,
The process by which the political insti-tutions and the
democratic endeavours acquire legitimacy and are
accepted on the political scene and by the population in
general.
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Demographic Targeting 4E"!a/*#7" M"#^,3J"
Grouping of the voting population based on age, gender,
income, education level, occupation, ethnic background,
religion, or any other smaller, identifiable group-ing of the
whole voter population. It is assumed that voters who
identify with a particular demographic group will vote in a
similar way.
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Deputy Returning Officer
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The Deputy Returning Officer has a very important job at
the poll: to ensure that voters are able to arrive at their
assigned poll, mark their ballots and depart with ease. His
duties are: to man-age the poll; administer required oaths;
hand out ballots; deposit marked ballots in ballot box if
voter requests; supervise the process; close the poll; do
the count; fill out the records of the poll; and, on election
night, return the ballot box and supplies to the returning
office.
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Direct Mail Fundraising 1GDt1 }^f |,3>01 3>[ 3w.>^01 F
Sending voters something in the mail asking them to
contribute to an organi-zation, a political party or a
candidate.
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Direct Recording Electronic (DRE)
Equipment
3w.>^01 @0~1 `+501 \."f
Also known as Electronic or Touch-Screen Machines, this
type of voting equipment projects the ballot on a
com-puter screen in front of the voter. The voter touches
the screen to make selec-tions and cast the ballot.
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Direct Recording Electronic Voting System
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X.Y]0 @JH35K0U1 #,Ga501 /
An electronic voting system in which votes are tallied
directly to computer memory. The voting machines
typically take the form of an automatic teller machine or a
laptop computer.
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Direct Suffrage 3w.>D j.N5J1
Elections that are directly made by voters.
$% . "&< 3 $% \# " C. G ' 1 @()*$% , ' E1U)
Direct Voter Contact <++>O.]0.- 3w.>D F.a61
Any method by which the candidate or the campaign
communicates the mes-sage to potential voters in person,
rather than using some form of media.
S/I OI @& 8," Ù1,S$ ! .: >S,BS$ &I ' ;)<"b PG) $% 9$: >$)/1$% !"'()* "S,.B,$% !
>^<' U ( >"< )R&G !G C%-(./% )/&$% 4F ",KGb% > .
Discarded Ballot %H3:D 9GI / &|W>5D *74H
Ballot paper issued to a voter who did not place in a ballot
box.
1& >2 2% . <, 0%1 N&-*< 5D )+=R" C$ @()*$ E1- % .2 0%1 .
Disclosure <[ %.aSM ..
Means the release, transfer, provision of access to, or
divulging in any other man-ner of information outside the
entity holding the information.
=" * b% 5 c- )' S=,$ & 3), &I J * &I )+SQ $% 7. -"& )+' &I J k' )+F)UD: )8 >Q"14 >" * 3
1)( m * N)4 >G&,?,$% 9.$% B. M^. n#+' S=,$% & 3), .
Disenfranchise <D |,36 #,Ga501 'd / =.D3d
To cause a person to lose the right to vote.
$% ' @'/. ),1B ! f(U , ! PQB >/1),, D $% 5 . &< " 3 .
Disenfranchisement '+CW6 / |+^6 / 2135781 'd 2sJ
Suspension or removal of the right to vote.
S=. " &I N 7* NB 0 3"&<.$% .

Distribution of Preferences 9.+CVSt1 },\G6
The candidate with the least number of first preference
votes (total of Above the Line and Below the Line) is the
candi-date who is to be excluded. These votes are
transferred to the other candidates still in the count.
1,$% Ù O#$% ;<B" G S 9 -G - I !, ;2 3%&"S % ` $ \#
" -=' . 6 # n A% &< 3% . * 9$: ;Q !"BU1,$% "1(w% ! $% # " ! ), 7 %&$% D $% 5 ^ 1 7 .

Distribution Requirements 91GIt1 2\G6 9.DsC5D
The requirement that to win election a candidate must not
merely win a speci-fied proportion of the vote nationally
but also a specified degree of support from different
regions.
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C6- >?1- 9SG ;' J @/B& 9*4&$% -"=<$% 9SG 3"&<.$% !, >*"=, >'/* 9SG
S.(,$% N4)*,$% !, E--B, )R"I >^ .
District &3?1P / *Wo.BD
The defined geographic area in which the election will be
held and following the election, the winner will represent.
Ù1,$% )+SW,"/& 3)')(.*% )+"D \1?./ 9.$% E--B,$% >"D%1H?$% >Q4*,$% 96&
7F)^$% .
District Electoral Officer/ Returning officer
*+-.N5J81 &3?1|01 FHQD / 9.-.N5Jq0 @^+C7M 3,|D
The electoral official responsible for organizing the
election in a constituency.
C"M*. !G ;&V/,$% &6 3)')(.*% >"')(.*% E1F%-$% 9D .
District Magnitude &3?1|01 &3d
The number of members to be elected in each district.
E1F%- ;8 9D C+')(.*% C."/ !"#$% c)RGA% --G !G E1)'G &6 .
District Research &3?1|01 )e-
District research is all the information that your campaign
can put together about the district. This is part of the
overall research that should be done at the beginning of
the campaign. See Research.
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5H'*" 5.$% >S,)U$% ;+./, 5D )6V%1?: >S,B$% . dB'$% 1M*% .

Districting *+-.N5J81 3?1H|01 |,|e6 / c+B6
Generally, the process of marking off or dividing into
districts % for example, into electoral districts for the
purposes of electing representatives to a legisla-ture. And
it may be a legislature itself that does the districting.
&I -"-B. >"S,G 56 JC&,=$)' _KW, JN4)*,$% C"/Q. @)(.*% j-+$ >"')(.*% N4)*,
>"="1U.$% >F"+S$ !"SW,, . C&Q. )+.%# -B' >"="1U. >F"6 !&8. !I !8,,$% !,&
1F%&-$% C"/Q.' .
Divided Government *^B^01 *DGKe01
A term that generally refers to a situa-tion where the
president is a member of one political party and at least
one chamber of Congress (either the Senate or the House
of Representatives) is con-trolled by the opposite party.
This situa-tion can also exist at the state level, with one
party controlling the governorship, and another controlling
the state legisla-ture. Divided government frequently
occurs in the U.S. political system.
>"1&+,?$% o"F1 P"D !&8" gR& 9$: ),&,G 1"U" 1"'=. 14"/" ),*"' @7B !,
5/S?, -BI 9SG 1(w% @7B$% )=, !"/S?,$% &I o1H*&8$% . >$)B$% n#6 O1/.&
9SG )R"I !, >"&$% C8)B !&8" !I 9*=,' J3)"&$% \&./, 14"/" ),*"' @7B
5="1U.$% oS?,$% 9SG 1(w% @7B$% >"&$% 5D . -+U" 581",A% 5/)"/$% C)M*$%
3)B >,/Q,$% 3),&8B$% !, E1"W8 .
Donkey Vote @>/01 #,Ga501 / @^[E #,Ga6
The term used to describe a ballot paper marked with
preferences for candidates without consideration of their
policies or abilities. A classic donkey vote is one which
records preferences straight down the ballot paper in the
same order as the names printed.
9$: ;",. >"')(.*% >2)4' j<&$ `S4<,$% i$# C-(./" ),*&- !"*"=, !"BU1,
C+.%1-2 &I C+.)/)"/$ 1)'.G% . ;=$ i%# &6 9,GA% 3"&<.$% !G m#&,* 71'I
;(-" O#$% .K"R^. P G >BF 9SG 3-1& ),8 >"')(.*% >2)4'$% 9S c),/I
),),. >G&'4,$% !"BU1,$% .
Door-to-Door j.>0 j.- <D
See Canvass.
j%&4 1M*% .
Double Ballot System +HPs^01 2135781 X.YJ
See Two Round System.
8A% C)M*$% 1M*% 1W !".1&- 9SG O .

Double-Marked c!G01 *fHPsD *7.:-
A ballot that is overvoted with exactly two marks.
B$% !, 1W8I 3%&<k' >,&/&, >"')(.*% >2)4' 56 - J ),),. !".1)UT' .

Down Ballot =|5D 213571
Often less important offices are placed lower on the ballot.
Often down ballot offices receive less votes due to voter
drop off or voter fatigue. See Low Profile Race, Voter Drop
Off and Voter Fatigue.
;^/I 5D >",6I 3)')(.*% @<)*, ;2I !&8. ), )'$)L >BF % 0%1.2 . ), )'$)L&
5D 5.$% -G)Q,$% iS. ;<B. !"'()*$% j%1<* J;2I 3%&BFK$% 9*-I
i)+*h$ C+R1=.$ &I )+*G @=.$%& . oD)*.$% 1M*% ,$% 5')(.*% * &I l^(
;V)R. / % l)^(* !"'()*$% c)"G: i$#8& !"'()*$% .

Droop Quota (rarely used)
.6Gk / @+>J *ad " jH4P ) " *0H1|5D 3+A "
The Droop Quota is the formula that is used to calculate
the minimum number, or quota, of votes required to
capture a seat in a multi-member constituency using
Proportional Representation through the Single
Transferable Vote (PR.STV). The quota is ascertained by
the following formula: total vote divided by the number of
seats plus one, then one is added to the product: [total
valid poll/(seats+')]+'
!, J).&8$% &I J9*-A% -B$% @)/.B C-(./. 5D -=Q,' 7&^S$ >'&S4,$% 3%&<A%
-G)Q,$% E--=., E1F%- -1^$% 0%1.2% ;K( !, 5'/*$% ;"W,.$% C%-(./)' \ ;')Q$%
S$ . ? ' 1" . ;K( !, ).&8$% !, NQB.$% C."& "<$% H >"$).$% > : 3%&<A% 0&,?, C/2I
--G 9SG J-B%& -F%7 J-G)Q,$% W " C s.)*$% 9$: -B%& j)R : ) --G 3%&<A% / --G&
-G)Q,$% + y +(( y .

E
Early Voting X|B5D #,Ga6 3YJ1 / X|B5D 213571 / '>D
See Advance Voting
*% C-Q., 3"&<. 1M / % 2 1. % C-Q., 0 / /, N' .
Earned Media i5K^01 Xq[M / Xq[U1 ik
Any coverage of the campaign in the press. It is called
(earned media,) as opposed to Paid Media, because the
campaign will often have to expand a considerable
amount of time and energy to receive good coverage.
CKGb%& >D)B<$% 5D >S,BS$ >"4H. >"I . 9,/.& " $% CKGb% , .8 / @ / @/8
CKGb% " *"' >21^.S$ )+ 1?k' CKGb% &I 0&D-,$% CKGb% !"'& . !I 5*=" i$#&
!)+./" E1-2& )+.2& !, %14U ;#'./ ), )'$)L >S,B$% ;&<BS$ )6-+? !, P'
E-"? >",KG: >"4H. 9SG .
Editorial *,3,3e6 *0.BD / *+d.55S1
Expressed opinions by individuals, news-paper and radio
editors, and TV journal-ists, among others, which are
intended to persuade viewers and listeners by taking one
side of a particular issue.
, &I J-%1DA% ;'2 !, )+*G 1'=,$% c%1w% 1B -F%1?$% O1 %& -%1$ 5"D)B<& &"
!&"7"^S.$% - C61"L !,R - j-+.& !, !"=,./,$%& !"-6)U,$% 0)*2: 9$: ;K(
j2&, -""k. >*"=, >"RQ$ -B%& .
Election Advertising *+-.N5J81 *,.[|01
Advertising used during a campaign period to promote or
oppose, directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate or
a registered political party. It could take various forms
such as: flyers, newspapers, magazines, billboards,
letters, radio, television, hats, signs and inter-net.
>R1)=, &I E-*)/,$ >"')(.*% >S,B$% E1.D ;K( >")G-$% @7B &I Ù1, @)(.*%
5/)"/ . jS.(, )+"D ;,=./.& ;)8UA% : )*, "U )G- 1 F %1?& J>" F J3K?,& J-
)/1& F J; %#b%& G > %& J $ & J3)='2& JE7^S. 3%1)U J *1.*%& 3 .
Election Commission 9.-.N5J81 *]0
Usually a non-partisan board set up to oversee the
election and make sure that it is conducted fairly.
See Board of Elections.
9SG j%1Uh$ )+S"8U. C." >"'7B 1"L >F"6 E-)G 56& % )61"/ !),R& 3)')(.*
>6%7*' . 3)')(.*% >F"6 1M*% .
Election Day/ Polling Day @-.N5J81 XG+01 / XG,
j.N5J81
The day on which the voters come to the polls and cast
their votes to elect their leaders.
0%1.2% 78%1, 9$: !&'()*$% P"D P?&." O#$% C&"$% c-h$ @)(.*%& C+.%&<k'
C+.-)2 .
Election Goal @-.N5J81 p|"01
This usually refers to the number of votes needed to win
an election. It is assumed that the overall goal of the
elec-tion campaign is to win a particular office. This is not
always the case. Some candidates run for office to
pro-mote a particular idea or expose an opponent's record
on a particular issue.
7&^S$ >'&S4,$% 3%&<A% --G 9$: )'$)L 1"U"& 3)')(.*)' . !I C&G7,$% !,
>S,B$% !, 5$),?b% j-+$% !"=, @<*,' 7&^$% &6 . d"B j-+$% ),F%- o"$ %#6
!I ' j-6 &I >"F)*W./% E18D 7"7=. !&8" -2 !"BU1,$% l= C<( ;?/ l1G
>*"=, >"R2 ;&B .
Election Manager 9.-.N5J81 3,|D
A person appointed by the Electoral Commissioner to
conduct an election for an electoral district or province.
=" !<(U &6 *" (.*K$ >"*4&$% >*?S$% &RG P J3)') !,R >"')(.*% >"S,G E1%-b
>"')(.*% >=4)Q, &I E1F%- .

Election Monitoring/ Observation 9.-.N5J81 *>713D
Gathering of information regarding an electoral process,
by an organization who is not inherently authorized to
intervene in the process. Unbiased accredited persons,
domestic or interna-tional, participate to detect any fraud
or cheating in the electoral process.
>,M*, ;'2 !, J>"')(.*% >"S,=$% ;&B 3),&S=, g,? 1<, 1"L q ;8U' )+$
>"S,=$% 5D ;(-.$)' ;<k., . 2&W&, @*)?I& !&"SB, f)(UI i1)U"& & 1"L& !
B., " !"7 >"')(.*% >"S,=$% 5D @GK. &I 1"&7. OI !G jU8S$ .
Election Observer/Election Monitor
@-.N5J1 i713D / 9.-.N5J81 i713D
Accredited person participating in elec-tion observation.
Can be domestic or international.
>"')(.*% >'2%1,$)' >81)U,S$ l&^, f(U . !I !8," )"$&- &I )"SB, !&8" /
)"'*?I .

Election Office @-.N5J1 i5KD
An office from which an election is con-ducted. A single
office may conduct elections for up to two districts and a
province.
>"')(.*% >"S,=$% P*, 1%-. @.8, &6 . @.8,$ !8,"& 1"-" !I -B%& 3)')(.*%
>'/*$)' $ %- F >=4)Q,& !".1 9<2I -B8 >"')(.*% .
Election Opinion Survey @-.N5J81 hE301 2q:5!1
An election opinion survey means an opinion survey
respecting an election or a matter of public discussion in
relation to the election, including an opinion sur-vey
respecting an issue discussed pub-licly in the election.
Methods to obtain such public opinions range from
tele-phone surveys, mailed questionnaires, and specific
questions on an election ballot to comments obtained in
public meetings.
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C),.6% 3%# >"R2 &I 3)')(.*)' 3)')(.*)' 4)'.1)' C)G . >$&%-.,$% N14$% !,
;&<BS$ 1'G c).^./%& Jj.)+$% 1'G 1"1)Q.$% C)=$% OI1$% 9SG >SF/A%& J-"1'$%
>,)=$% 3)G),.?% 5D >B&14,$% >*S=,$% S=.. 5.$%& 3)')(.*)' N .
Election Petition *+-.N5J1 *V,3[
A qualified person who desires to become a candidate for
an official office may become a candidate by petition
signed by a specified number of qualified voters of the
district from which the can-didate seeks election.
5,/1 @<*,$ Ù1." !k' @L1" ;6V, f(U$ !8," !, )BU1, `'<" !I
!"=, --G )+=2&" >R"1G ;K( 5.$% >"')(.*% E1F%-$% 5D !"S6V,$% !"'()*$% !,
O&*" )+*G Ù1.$% .
Election Rights *+-.N5J1 yGBd
The right to vote, to stand as a candidate for election, to
form a political party and belong to it, to campaign and to
be elected.
JP"$: c),.*%& @7B ;"8U.& JÙ1.$%& J3"&<.$% NB >"')(.*% 3K,B >,)2:&
3)')(.*)' 7&^$%& .
Election Rules <+J1G7 / *+-.N5J1 |[1G7
Any laws or rules of the election com-mission that will
affect the election in any way.
!)8 &B* OI 9SG 3)')(.*% >*?$ )+='.. !"*%&2 &I -G%&2 >"I .

Election Supervision *+-.N5J81 *+C^W01 @C[ p13wU1
Activity of overseeing some or all the steps of the electoral
process by an inde-pendent third party which could be
inter-governmental or non-governmental.
>"')(.*% >"S,=$% 3%&4( l=' 9SG j%1Ub% 4)U* 8 &I S N"1D ;K( !, )+
&I 5$&- 5,&8B ;Q./, d$)W 5,&8B 1"L .
Election Writ @-.N5J1 XG!3D
Written statement issued by the relevant authority
directing the holding of an election on a specified date.
P"?&.' >S< )+$ 5.$% >4S/$% !G 1-)< @&.8, !)"' & : p"1).' 3)')(.*% c%1?
--B, .
Election/ Elections 9.-.N5J1
Exercise through which the voters express their choice
between competing political parties or candidates;
mecha-nism for choosing representatives and
governments.
1"'=.$)' !&'()*$% P$K( !, C&Q" !"1,. !, C61)".(% !G >"/)"/$% @%7BA%
!"SW,,$% 1)".(% >"$a J!"BU1,$%& 3),&8B$%& .
Electioneering @-.N5J81 `^W01 / r,H3501
Electioneering is prohibited within '"" feet of the polling
site entrance. Electioneering includes: distributing,
wearing, or carrying political literature, posters, banners,
or buttons, and solicit-ing votes.
" ;)?, 5D 5')(.*% ;,=$% q)' yYY ;(-, !, C-2 &6& 0%1.2% !)8,
J>"')(.*% >S,B$% 1)4: 5D J!,R." 7&. J>"/)"/ @%-a OI ;,B &I c%-.1% &I g"
3)Q<S, &I c%&$ &I J>"*KG: % 3%&<A% o),.$%& J3 .
Elector/ Voter iO.J
Person who is eligible and registered to vote. See also
Registration of Voters.
f(U V, ,& ;6 ?/ 3"&<.S$ ; . ;"?/. 1M*% !"'()*$% .
Electoral Administration PM *+-.N5J1 &41
Body dealing with the electoral process. See Electoral
Management Body.
S,=$% g, ;,)=.. >F"6 >" ')(.*% >" . 7)+? 1M*% : E1%- 3)')(.*% .

Electoral Age 2135781 <!
See Voting Age Population.
0%1.2% !/ !,R !)8/$% 1M*% .
Electoral Authority C! *+-.N5J1 *:
See Electoral Commission.
>"')(.*% >*?$ 1M*% .
Electoral Code *+-.N5J1 *JH|D
The rules governing the elections in a specific country, in
order to establish fair, open and democratic procedures
and rules.
$&- 5D 3)')(.*% C8B. 5.$% !"*%&Q$% 56 J>*"=, > 3%c%1?b% c)/1: j-+'
>D)Û$%& >+"7*$% -G%&Q$%& $%& - %1Q," 4 " > .
Electoral College *+-.N5J1 *,+.
When Americans vote for a President and Vice President,
they actually vote for presidential electors, known
collec-tively as the electoral college. It is these electors,
chosen by the people, who elect the chief executive. In
December, after the presidential election, these
rep-resentatives gather in their states& capi-tals and vote
for the president and vice president. *#" votes are needed
for a president to be elected.
0%1.2% N"-)*< 9$: !&"81",A% !&'()*$% @6#" !"B J-"-?$% o"F1S$ 3"&<.S$
!&81)U" C+*I !&1"W8 -Q.=" o"F1S$ 1U)', @)(.*% 5D . >"B)*$% !, J1,A% !8$
% ^$ >F"+$)' j1=" ), -&?& @'/' i$#8 o"$ J>"* >"')(.*% . 56 >"')(.*% >F"+$%&
!, >G&,?, C/% " *,$% !"'&- " 3)"&$% 5D @7B$% c)RGI C+BU1" !"#$% ,$% ( >^S.
-)B.% 5D . cV6 @)(.*% C." @)(.*% C&" 5D %&$-I -2 !&*&8" !"#$% J!"'&-*,$%
1(w &I Ù1,$ C+F&' >"'=U @)(.*% >"S,G 1'G J!""/)F1$% !"BU1,$% !, . 5D&
;&A% !&*)8 / g,.?" J5/)F1$% @)(.*% -=' J1',/"- V6 5D !&'&-*,$% c
C+.%&<k' !&$-"& C+.)"& C<%&G o"F1$% @F)*& o"F1S$ . OI @)(.*% C." 58$&
Jo"F1 3%&?)B' P*TD z]Y cV6 !, .

Electoral Commission *+-.N5J1 *]0
Independent authority responsible for the conduct or
supervision of the elec-toral process.
&I >"')(.*% >"S,=$% 1"/ !G >$&V/, >SQ./, >4S/ 1, % )+.'2 .
Electoral Commissioner *+]oG01 *]C01 GV[
9.-.N5Jq0
Is responsible for ensuring the fair and impartial conduct
of elections described under the Electoral Law, managing
the operations of the Commission to achieve objectives
and meet all legisla-tive and reporting responsibilities;
main-taining accurate electoral rolls; promot-ing public
awareness of electoral prac-tices through education and
information programs; conducting research on elec-toral
matters; and providing advice on electoral matters to
members of the Legislative Assembly, political parties and
others.
>+"7* >Q"14' 3)')(.*% 1"/ !",k. !G ;&V/,$% &6 B, &6 ),8 J>"-)"B& - 5D -
!G& J5')(.*% !&*)Q$% &?1,$% j%-6[$ )Q"QB. >*?S$% 3)"S,G E1%-: c)^":& E ;8'
$%& >"="1U.$% 3)"$&V/,$% . 1"1Q " > Z >MD)B,$% !G& >Q"2- >"')(.*% ;&%-? 9SG Z
n)?. C)=$% 5G&$% 7"7=.& $% s,%1' ;K( !, >"')(.*% 3)/1),,$% . >"'1
J>"')(.*% ;F)/,$% ;&B d)B'A% c%1?I& J3),&S=,$%& !kU' `F)<*$% C"-Q.&
c)RGI 9$: >"')(.*% ;F)/,$% ,?$% $% >"= . ="1U " )61"L& >"/)"/$% @%7BA%& J> .
Electoral Court/ Electoral Tribunal *+-.N5J1 *^KeD
Court of justice existing in some coun-tries with the
exclusive purpose of han-dling electoral disputes.
&6& O1?$)=, *$ %7 )G 3
>"')(.*% .
Electoral Dispute @-.N5J1 21sJ
Any dispute related to the electoral process.
>"')(.*% >"S,=$)' NS=., jK( OI .
Electoral District *B:]D / *+-.N5J1 &3?1P / *+-.N5J1 *Wo.BD
Geographic area delimited for electoral purpose. Also -
Constituency.
=, >"D%1H? >Q4*, >*" E1F%- i$#8 J5')(.*% j-+$ >"')(.*% .
Electoral Expenditures *+-.N5J1 9.BbJ
Payments made by political campaigns for goods or
services intended to influ-ence the outcome of an election.
)(.*% 3K,B$% )+' C&Q. 5.$% 3)G&D-,$% !,R.. >"' l%1LA% &I 3),-(S$
>?".* 5D 1"Wk.$% ;?I !, E-%1,$% 3)')(.*% .
Electoral Law j.N5J81 =GJ.7 / @-.N5J1
The law or body of law and regulations governing the
electoral process.
-&/" O#$% 3),"M*.$%& !"*%&Q$% >F"6 &I !&*)Q$% &6& 3)')(.*% >"S,G 9SG .
Electoral List/ Electoral Roll/ Voterls List
*+-.N5J1 *e?8 / <+>O.]01 *e?8 / i:/01 v?1G0 / *+-.N5J1 *^?.7 /
<+>O.]01 FH|f
A list of names and other relevant details of persons who
meet the eligibility require-ments to vote. This list is used
as a control document during the voting process.
!"S6V,$% f)(U[$ >'/)*,$% ;"<)^.$%& c),/A% >BF 3"&<.S$ . n#6 ;,=./.
;K( 4'R >Q"W&8 >BFK$% >"')(.*% >"S,=$% .

Electoral Management Body 9.-.N5J81 &41PM \."f
The electoral management body is part of the
Government, either in the Ministry of Interior or in the local
gov-ernment structure. Essentially, it is the administrative
infrastructure required to support the democratic process
of elec-tions and selecting the right system for the
particular circumstances.The elec-toral management body
oversees admin-istrative arrangements and is assisted by
a team of officers and employees responsible for many
aspects of elec-toral process. Election managers are civil
servants.
7)+? 5D &I >"S(%-$% E1%7& 5D ),: J>,&8B$% !, c7? &6 $% 5SB,$% >,&8B .
>"1%-b% >".B.$% >"*'$% &6 o)/A)' 3)')(.*K$ >"4%1Q,"-$% >"S,=$% 7"7=.$ >'&S4,$%
1)".(%& >"<)($% j&1MS$ `"B<$% C)M*$% . 9SG 7)+?$% j1U" >"1%-b% 1"'%-.$%
!"^M&,$% !, N"1D i$# 5D n-G)/"& >"S,=S$ E--=., n&?& !G !"$&V/,$%
>"')(.*% . & c%1-, *% !&"*-, !&",&8B !&^M&, C6 3)')(. .
Electoral Manager @-.N5J1 3,|D
At the direction of the Returning Officer, the electoral
manager is responsible for managing and supervising the
staff throughout the electorate, in addition to preparing
training materials.
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;,=$% N"1D E1%-: !G @"1-.$% -%&, 1"RB. 9$: >D)R: JP"SG j%1Ub%& .

Electoral Official / Polling Official
9.-.N5Jq0 h41PM cY]D / @-.N5J1 FHQD
Electoral Officials or Polling Officials play a crucial role in
an election. The Polling Official must not disclose any
election or voting information and must, at all times, be a
responsible representa-tive of the Electoral Commission.
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&I 3)')(.*)' >QS=., >"')(.*% >*?S$% !G &V/, )'&-*, 1'.="& J3"&<.$)' .
Electoral Participation *+-.N5J1 *k4./D
The ratio or percentage of voters cast-ing their votes in a
specific election.
=, 56 - 5D C+.%&<k' !&$-" !"#$% !"G1.Q,$% >'/* &I ; )(.*% >*"=, 3)' .

Electoral Process *+-.N5J1 *+C^[
Steps involved in the preparation and carrying out of an
election. It usually starts with the announcement of the
election and includes the enactment of the electoral law,
the registration of vot-ers and candidates, the campaign,
the voting, and the tabulation of votes until the
announcement of results.
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J@)(.*% !&*)2 !/ J>"')(.*% >S,B$%& J!"BU1,$%& !"'()*$% ;"?/.& >$&-?&
!"B 9$: J3%&<A% sF).*$% !KG: .

Electoral Regulations *+-.N5J1 <+J1G7
Can be seen as translating the principles of voting
operations into standards that must be consistently
achieved through methods and detailed procedures, and
may differ throughout the area in which elec-tions for a
representative body are held.
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5D14 1'G %c%1?:& 3 O1?. d"B >Q4*,$% 5B%&* jK.()' jS.(.& J>S<^,
>"S"W,. >F"6 3)')(.*% .
Electoral Roll <+[35B^01 *e?8
See Voters List.
-? 1M*% !"'()*$% ;& / @4U$% `F%&$ .
Electoral Sub-District
&3/aD *+-.N5J1 &3?1P / *+[3S / @-.N5J1 2.:7
Every part of the Constituency for which one or more
Ballot Centers has been designated.
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Electoral System @-.N5J1 X.YJ / 213571 *B,3o
Combination of formulas and mecha-nisms which provides
for the electorate to cast the votes and to translate these
votes into seats in the parliament or the legislature.
&<.$% >'()*$% >F"+$% !8,. 3)"$a& t"< s,- ;Q*& 3" 5D -G)Q, 9$: 3%&<A%
>"="1U.$% >F"+$% &I !),$1'$% .
Electoral Tribunal *+-.N5J1 *^KeD
Court, tribunal or other authority in which a candidate or
an elector may dispute the validity of an election, or
challenge the conduct of candidates or political parties. In
Latin America, for example, this name is often given to the
electoral commissions or equivalent authority.
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&I 3)')(.*% >B<' >"'7B$% @%7BA% &I !"BU1,$% j1<. 9SG l%1.GK$ .
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3)4S/ .
Electorate *>O.J *,+. / =G>O.J / =G[35BD
This is the portion of the population able to vote in this
election. See Voters.
n#6 5D 0%1.2% 9SG E1-)Q$% >"*)8/$% >B"1U$% 3)')(.*% . !&'()*$% 1M*% .
Electronic Media @JH35K0M Xq[M
Electronic media is television and radio organizations that
use spoken words and/or video, as opposed to the print
media that uses the written word and/or pictures. See
Print Media and Mass Media.
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CKGb% ;')Q, J&"-"^$% & >G&'4,$% >,S8$% C-(./" O#$% 0&'4,$% / E1&<$% &I
>"D%1L&.&^$% . $% CKGb%& ;&'4$% CKGb% 1M*% , c&1Q .
Electronic Voting Machine
(EVM) 35K0U1 #,Ga501 *0g *+JH
EVM is a piece of equipment for use in electing a
candidate from among many candidates. The voter is not
given a bal-lot paper when he first enters the polling
center, he simply presses a button, or a screen, that
register his/her candidate of choice.
E-G !"' !, Ù1, @)(.* C-(./. >$a 56 . 94=" -*G 0%1.2% >21& @()*$%
;' J0%1.2% 781, P$&(- >U)U 9SG &I >$w% 9SG 17 9SG 4HR" : >"*&1.8$
n-"1" O#$% Ù1,S$ n1)"( ;(-. .
Eligible Voter `.QD iO.J
Individual who satisfies the legal requirements to
participate in the elec-tion. Those requirements are
usually related to nationality, age, soundness of mind and
absence of criminal record.
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>"S6A%& J1,=$%& J>"/*?$% 5F)*?$% ;?/$% @)"L& >"SQ=$% .

Emergency Voting 141G:01 #,Ga6 / 14.:01 #,Ga501
An emergency voting occurs when a voter cannot go to
the polling station on Election Day (or vote in the early
vot-ing) for specific reasons that meet the requirements of
the country or district regulations concerning this kind of
vot-ing. Some countries allow emergency voting if the
person is suddenly hospital-ized, or becomes seriously ill,
or is sud-denly called away from home. If this person
meets all the requirements, and he cannot be present at
the polling sta-tion to express his choice through vot-ing,
an emergency ballot is issued to the authorized
representative of the voter.
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5')(.*% C&"$% 5D ) 5$-" &I E18',$% 3"&<.$% 5D P.&<' ( A ND%&.. >*"=, @)'/
g, !, 0&*$% %#6 ;&'Q$ >MD)B,$% &I c)RQ$% &I -S'$% 3)'S4., 3"&<.$% . `,/.
%#: 3"&<.$% %#+' !%-S'$% l=' l1,' @"<I &I JEk?D 9Û./,$% @()*$% ;(-
JO-? n1Q, !G %-"=' Ek?D nV)G-./% C. %#: &I . ;,8./% %#: 3)'S4.,$% f(U$% %#6
8 S .G)4./)' !8" C$& J)+ P -"&7. )6-*G !8," J5')(.*% C&"$% 5D 3"&<.$% W,, ;
$% @()*$% , ( & {1)4 3"&<. >21&' ; .

Endorsements 9.7P.a^01
Endorsements are announced or written support for the
candidate from opinion leaders or organizations that will
influ-ence members of their organizations or other voters
to vote for the candidate. See Opinion Leaders.
-)<,$% 2 &I OI1$% E-)2 P'.8" &I P' q1<" !KG: 3) )+G)'.I 5D E1WV,$% 3),M*,$%
CG-$ !"1(w% !"'()*$% &I P$ 0%1.2%& Ù1,$% . OI1$% E-)2 1M*% .
Enfranchise 2135781 'd @C[ FGae01
Grant voting rights.
0%1.2% N&QB `*, .
Enrollment / Voter Registration
`+6 / *+-.N5J81 v?1GC01 @C[ `+501
Inclusion of eligible voters on the voters list.
9SG 3)')(.*K$ !"S6V,$% !"'()*$% ;"?/.& ;,U >"')(.*% `F%&S$% .
Enumeration P1|W6
A door-to-door canvass of all residences in an electoral
district for the purpose of identifying and registering all
eligible voters.
>"')(.*% E1F%- 5D !8)/,$% ;8 @%&'I 9SG j%&4$% /),.$% ) !"'()*$% 9SG j1=.S$
C+S"?/.& !"S6V,$% .
Equal Suffrage
2135781 _S hH.5^01 'e01 / &1H.D #,Ga501 _S / #,Ga501
Principle according to which every per-son is entitled to
one vote (one person, one vote).
-B%& 3&<' -1D ;8$ NB" d"B E%&)/,$% I-', .
Equity p.aJM
Demands that voting operations offer equal opportunities
for participation to all eligible voters and political
partici-pants. Encompasses aspects of Accessibility and
Transparency.
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!"81)U,$%& @)(.*K$ !"S6V,$% C+=",? !""/)"/$% . >"D)Û$% 16)M, ;,U. 56&
&QB$% 9$: ;&<&$% >"*)8,:& N .
Establishment &2/]D
The label given to powerful, elite indi-viduals or groups
who can make impor-tant social, political, and economic
poli-cy decisions for the society.
#(.. 5.$% 3)G&,?,$% &I f)(UA% !, >'(*$ 94=" @Q$ 12 % J>"G),.?% 3%1
3%1%12& >"-)<.2%& g,.?,$% 5D >/)"/$% .
Ethnic Voter @]{M iO.J
An ethnic voter is one who identifies with a particular
national, religious or language grouping. These are
generally groupings within the demographic breakdown of
the population.
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3B. m1-*. ), )'$)L 3)G&,?, !)8/S$ >"D%1H,"-$% 3),"/Q.$% .
E-Voting @JH35K0M #,Ga6
E-voting is an election system that allows a voter to record
his or her secure and secret ballot electronically.
Electronic votes are stored digitally in a storage medium
such as a tape cartridge, diskette, or smart card before
being sent to a cen-tralized location where tabulation
pro-grams compile and tabulate results.
)M* &6 C P.&< ;?/" !I @()*S$ `"." 5')(.*% : *&1.8$ )" J ;8U' / !,a& O1 .
D . ( *&1.8$% 3%&<A% !1 " ,21 > )" &I J;"?/. 4"1U8 J!"7(. >S"/& >4/%&'
&I J!1, f12 !I ;'2 J>"8# >2)4' . d"B O781, g2&, 9$: ;/1 8. - ,%1' o s
$% >$&-?$% * F). s ;&-? 5D )+'.1.& .
Executive Office h3+b]6 ia]D
An elected position that oversees the running of the
government, such as a mayor, governor or president. See
Legislative Office.
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o"F1$%& >"&$% C8)B& . 1M*% 5="1U. @<*, .
Exhausted Votes *Ss]5D 91GIE
A vote becomes exhausted when it needs more choices
than it has on its list. This is caused by the voter not
making enough choices. It is a vote which has reached the
stage where no further pref-erences can be distributed
when distrib-uting preferences.
*./, 1&(<$% 5/," 7 D ) !, -"7,$% 9$: m).B" !"B 3%1)".(% 9SG E-&?&,$%
!"BU1,$% >BF . ,& -1 i$# 3%1)"($% !, 5^8" ), @()*$% #)(.% C-G . 3&< &6
-*G 07&. !I \1(I 3%1)"($ !8," d"B >SB1, tS' 3%1)"($% g"7&. .
Exit Poll 2135781 i6.KD <D +H3N01 h|0 5.aB5!1 / 5.adM
Assessment of the election results obtained by canvassing
voters as they leave the polling stations.
0%1.2% 78%1, 5D j%&4$% 1'G 3)')(.*% sF).*$ C""Q. !"'()*$% E1-)H, -*G
C+.%1)".(% !G C+$%V/& .
Expected Turnout =GW7G5D =G[35BD
The number of voters you believe will go to the polls and
vote in this particular election and this particular race.
78%1, 9$: @6#"/ P*I -Q.=" O#$% !"'()*$% --G 5D P.&<' 5$-"& 0%1.2%
n#6 E--B,$% 3)')(.*% 5')(.*% oD)*.$%& .
External Voting/ Overseas Vote/ Absentee
Voting +4.N01 _S #,Ga501 / <+>?./01 213571
See Absentee Voting.
5')"L 0%1.2% 1M*% .
F
Federal @014|S / hP.N61
Of or describing a constitutionally-delineated union of
states having a central government. In the American
system, a federal union is ultimately based upon national
supremacy but is also a political arrangement that
reserves powers to the states.
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O-1^$% -)B.% o)/I 5D >"*4&$% 3)4S/ M^B$ >"/)"/ >,M*, n1&-' !&8" O#$%
>"&S$ .
Federal Election Commission 9.-.N5J81 *]0
*+014|b01
The Federal Election Commission, an independent
regulatory agency, was created by the US Congress in
'+#!. The duties of the FEC are to disclose campaign
finance information, to enforce provisions of the law on the
limits and prohibitions on contributions, and to oversee
public funding of presidential elections.
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>SQ./, >","M*. . f*. ;"&,. 1-)<, f&<(' 3),&S=, jU8 9SG )+,)+,
3),6)/,$% -&-B 9SG !&*)Q$% 4&1U l1D& J3K,B$% jI 1U*$%& J)6-&"2&
$% 9SG 3)')(.*K$ C)=$% ;"&,. % $ 1 F /) " > .
Field Director @J1|+D 3,|D
A person on the campaign staff responsible for organizing
the direct contact with the voters by the candidate and the
volunteers.
C"M*. !G ;&V/,$%& >S,B$% 5D !"S,)=$% >F"6 5D &6& 1U)',$% ;)<.% g,
0&4.,$% &I Ù1,$% 1'G !"'()*$% .
Filing Deadline `+5C0 *+?."]01 |+[1G^01
The last day and time in which the candidate can file for a
particular office.
P^S,' C-Q.$% Ù1,S$ !8," C&" 1(w --B,$% !,7$% 56& -=Q,$ Ù1,8 ;"?/.S$
!"=, .
Final Result ."J *+5J *+?
Outcome. It states who is the winner in the elections.
3)')(.*% >S"<B . 7F)^$% Ù1,$% &6 !, !S=. .
First Past the Post .61GIE 3zkt1 \Gb01
A voting system under which the winning candidate is the
one who wins the most votes % an absolute majority is
not required, nor are several candidates chosen. The
system is in use at all levels of politics, typically for single-
member districts.
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!%1,I !"BU1, E-G 1)".(%& !"'&S4, 1"L . 6 ;,=./" ;8 9SG C)M*$% %#
3)"&./,$% -B%&$% &R=$% 3%# 1F%&-$% 5D !"?#&,* J>"/)"/$% .
First Preference FHE 4.+5O1
Preference is an order-ranking, not a number.
5,21 o"$& 5S/S/. @".1. &6 1)".(% .
Focus Group s+k3501 *[G^D
A method of sociological research in which a small group
of people are brought together and asked a series of
questions. The point is to receive qualitative information
about public attitudes and test reactions to various
messages and information. See Political Polling.
C." d"B 5G),.?% dB'S$ s+*, !, >G&,?, g,? !, >S/S/ q14& f)(UA%
l1H' JC+"SG >SF/A% >,)=$% j2%&,$% !G >",8 3),&S=, 9SG ;&<B$% 1"6),?S$
3)/1& 3),&S=, n)?. ;=^$% -&-1 1)'.(%& >G&*., . 5/)"/$% 0K4./% 1M*% .
Formal Vote FGIt1 id 213571 / @^!4 213571
A vote cast in an election or a referendum that has been
marked according to the rules for that election. A vote not
marked correctly is an Informal Vote.
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>Q"14' C/&" C$ O#$% 0%1.2% 5,/1 1"L )G%1.2% 1'.=" >B"B< .
Franchise #,Ga501 \.+5D1 / iO.J *bI / #,Ga501 'd
The constitutional right to vote.
3"&<.$)' NB$% @()*$% `*," O#$% O1&./-$% NB$% .
Free and Fair Elections *",sJH &3d 9.-.N5J1
The definition of a free and fair election is about more than
just a smooth technical process, but also includes the
respect for basic civil and political rights such as freedom
of expression, of movement, of association and assembly;
as well as the absence of barriers to the full participation
of all citizens, without any form of discrimination; the
absence of any form of intimidation; and the compliance
overall with the rule of law.
1"'=.$% >"1B8 >"*-,$% 3)"1B$% C%1.B)' 7",.. 3)')(.*% 0),.?%& g,?.$%& ;Q*.$%&
J3)"=,?$% o"/k.& J>+? OI !, ;(-. !&-' !"'()*$% ;8 >81)U,' `,/.& !&-'&
0&* OI 781.& ;"&+.$% !, &S(.& J7"",.$% !, !&*)Q$% -G%&2 9$: >')?./% 9SG .
Free List &3d *e?8
A form of List Proportional Representation in which voters
may vote for a party or grouping and in addition for one or
more candidates, whether or not those candidates are
nominated by that party or grouping.
>,F)Q$% g, 5'/*$% ;"W,.$% C)M* !, 0&* 56 !I !"'()*S$ !8," d"B >"'7B$%
&I @7B$ %&.&<" &I @7B$% !)8 !: J1W8I &I Ù1, 9$: >D)Rb)' J>G&,?,
&I !"BU1,$% cV6 %&BU1 -2 J>G&,?,$% .
Friends of Friends Program IE rD.J3- 5.7|It1 j.e
A method of voter contact where volunteers agree to
contact their friends either through the mail or on the
phone and encourage them to vote for the candidate.
9SG !&G&4.,$% ND%&" d"B !"'()*$)' ;)<.K$ >Q"14 C+F)2-<k' ;)<.%
$% 1'G C+FK,7& j.)+$% &I -"1' Ù1,$% `$)<$ 0%1.2% 9SG C+WB& .
Front-Loading 3K>D `+ê6
The practice of scheduling state party caucuses and state
primary elections earlier and earlier in advance of the
general election. By moving their primaries to early dates,
states hope to lend decisive momentum to one or two
presidential candidates and thus have disproportionate
influence on each party's nomination.
)+.%1,.V, -Q=' 3)"&$% l=' C)"2 9SG NS4. >",/. )+.)')(.*%& >"-)"Q$% >"'7B$%
-"G%&, 5D >"$&A% >"'7B$% 3)')(.*% N'/. ;&4kD ;&4I E-,' >,)=$% . iS. C"-Q.'&
!"*W% &I -B%& c)4G: 5D >"*=,$% 3)"&$% ;,k. J-"G%&,$% 9$: !"G)/$% !,
gD- E&2 >/)F1$% @<*,$ `"U1.$% 9SG }D)8., 1"L #&^* >W1)8 5$).$)'& >,/)B
>"S,G !"'7B$% !, ;8 5D `"U1.$% .
Front-Runner X|B5D vw3D
In a primary or general campaign, the label given to that
candidate who, according to polls and/or political pundits,
is in the lead over other opponents and/or is the favorite to
be elected.
&6 >,)=$% >"')(.*% >S,B$% &I >"$&A% 3)')(.*% 5D Ù1,S$ 94=,$% @QS$%
/*$)' C-Q.,$% & P,&<($ >' / &I 3)GK4./% @/B' i$#& J@(.*, 58$ ;R^,$%
& / !""/)"/$% !",S=,$% c%1a &I .
Full List *CD.k *e?8 / *C^5KD
List that includes all the candidates.
!"BU1,$% ;8 c),/k' >S,)8 >BF .
Full Representation (Proportional
Representation) `D.k `+z^6 ) ^501 @>]01 `+z (
Any system which consciously attempts to reduce the
disparity between a party&s share of the national vote and
its share of the parliamentary seats. For example, if a
party wins ," per cent of the votes, it should win
approximately ," per cent of the seats.
=." C)M* OI , 5D @7B E)"*),$1'$% . 7B 7)D !: _KW, @ !, >F),$)' !"='1k'
J3%&<A% )R"I -G)Q,$% !, >F),$)' !"='1k' 7&^" !I l1.^"D .
Full Voters List*CD./01 <+>O.]01 *e?8
Names that are on the register of electors. The full version
lists everyone who is entitled to vote.
!"'()*$% ;?/ 9SG >*&-,$% c),/A% . >S,)8$% >(/*$% g"4./" !, ;8 c),/k' `F%&S$
@)(.*% .
Full-Face Ballot *CD.k *+-.N5J1 *74H
In which all information on the ballot%e.g. all the offices
and candidates to be voted on -are presented on a single
sheet of paper or a single screen.
>21& 9SG >,7K$% 3),&S=,$% ;8 m1-. >"')(.*% >2)4' 56 >U)U &I E-B%&
E-B%& - 1F)/' >QS=.,$% 3),&S=,$)8 3"&<.$% !8," !"#$% !"BU1,$%& @<)*,$%
C+$ _KW, .
Full-Face Ballot Electronic Voting Machines
*CD.K01 *+-.N5J81 y14Ht1 @C[ |^5W^01 *+JH35K0U1 #,Ga501 98g
Some election day polling places use full-face ballot, direct
recording electronic (DRE) voting machines. These voting
machines electronically record your choices when you
press a button that indicates that you are casting a vote.
Election officials print and display the results from each
machine after the election day polls close.
3)')(.*% C&" >"G%1.2% 78%1,$% l=' C-(./. ')(.*% N%1&A% J>S,)8$% >"
3"&<.$% 3a& >"*&1.8$% E1U)', @()*$% 0%1.2% ;(-. 5.$% . !,D n#6 !kU
*&1.8$% i.%1)".(% ;(-. !I 3w% )" !: ), J 3&<$)' c-h$ 17 9SG 4HR. .
!G !&$&V/,$% d'S" ),& -=' )6&1U*"& J>$a ;8 !, sF).*$% %&='4" !I 3)')(.*%
'I >"')(.*% 78%1,$% NSH. !I )+'%& .

Fundraiser F1GDt1 }D.f / 9.[3>501
An event planned with the goal of raising money for the
campaign. Fundraiser may also refer to the person who
raises the funds for the campaign by any method.
d-B " 3)G1'.$% g,?$ P$ 44( . f(U$% )R"I P' 9*="& O#$% g,?" &I dB"
>S"/& >"I 1'G >S,BS$ 3)G1'.$% .
Fundraising F1GDt1 }^f / 9.[3>501
Any method used to raise money for the campaign.
>"')(.*% 3K,BS$ ;%&,A% g,?$ >S,=./, >Q"14 OI .
G
General Election *D.[ 9.-.N5J1
Election for national bodies. It is an election in which all
members of a given political body are up for election. The
term is generally used to refer to elections held for a
nation&s primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-
elections and local elections.
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>"SB,$% 3)')(.*%& >"G1^$% 3)')(.*% .
Geographic Targeting /f p1|"5!1 @S13
Grouping the voting population based on where they live
and determining patterns within the voting population
based on geography. It is assumed that voters who live in
a particular area and voted one way in the past will
probably vote the same way in the future, baring any
extreme change in their situation.
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>"I d&-B C-G ;)B 5D ;'Q./,$% >$)B$% n#6 5D E1"'8 3%1""H. .

Geopolitical Units G+01 91|dG01 - *+!.+!
Constituencies normally linked to proportional elections in
multi-nominal constituencies.
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!"BU1, >",/.' `,/. !"--=., .

Gerrymandering
3?1H|C0 @b+k c+B6 / h\.+eJ1 c+B6 / 3?1H|01 3,Hs6
Illegitimate boundary delimitation which gives one political
party an unfair advantage.
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GOTV= Get Out The Vote
76GI v]D1 / #,Ga501 }+/6
(Get Out The Vote) or GOTV is the term used to remind
voters to go to the polls and vote for your candidate. Often
a campaign will expend a considerable amount of effort
just before Election Day to make sure that your supporters
turn out and vote. See Pull and Blind Pull.
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Ù1,$% `$)<$ 3"&<.S$ . ), )'$)L& !, -8k.S$ 0%1.2% C&" ;'2 n-+? >S,B$% ;#'.
)+"-"V, !I C+.%&<k' !&$-"/ . % 9,GA% @B/$%& @B/$% 1M* .
Governance *+^k.d / cKd / *DGKd
The act of affecting government and monitoring (through
policy) the long-term strategy and direction of an
organization. In general, governance comprises the
traditions, institutions and processes that determine how
power is exercised, how citizens are given a voice, and
how decisions are made on issues of public concern.
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--B. ,, 1) / J!"*4%&,S$ 3&<$% c)4G: >"^"8& JE&Q$% > 5D 3%1%1Q$% #(I >"^"8&
C)=$% !kU$% )")R2 .
Government *DGKd
System of social control under which the right to make
laws, and the right to enforce them, is vested in a
particular group in society. There are many classifications
of government. According to the classical formula,
governments are distinguished by whether power is held
by one person, a few, or a majority.
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$% g,.?, . >,&8BS$& E--=., 3)^"*<. . 7",.. J>"8"/K8$% >H"<$% @/B'&
>4S/$% C),7' i/," !,' 3),&8B$% : J-B%& f(U &6I &I JE-G f)(UI &I
>"1W8I .

Government of National Unity *+]oH &|dH *DGKd
The prime objective of the government of national unity is
to make sure the nation will rally behind the elected
president.
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@(.*,$% o"F1$% .

Grassroots *+>Ww |[1G7 / *+!.+! *k3d HE jsd H|,QD
It is the involvement of common citizens and interest
groups in political life, typically at the local level.
Grassroots& activities may include mail, telephone, and
media advertising campaigns.
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5SB,$% \&./,$% . !,R." -2& ,B$% ;F)/&& !&^S.$%& -"1'$% C+4)U* >"F)G-$% 3K .

Gubernatorial Election *+^k.d 9.-.N5J1
The selection of a governor by a state&s voters.
C+,8)B$ ), >"& 5'()* 1)".(% >"S,G 56 .
H
Hagenbach-Bischoff Formula (Rarely Used)
9.>]/. */+I - pG/+- ) *0H1|5D 3+A (
Another term for the Droop Quota.
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Hanging Chad *+0|5^01 *-GBz^01 2135781 *74H
A hanging chad is a chad that did not completely detach
from the ballot. When there is a hanging chad, that vote
may not be counted correctly.
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>'2)W >$a >4/%&' . I , >21&$% ) >2)4'$% !G ),),. ;<^*. C$ 5.$% iS. 5+D J>"$-.,$%
>"')(.*% . $% i$# @/.B" -2 J>$)B$% iS. 5D < 3& >B"B< >Q"14' .
Hard Money/Soft Money *>Ca01 F1GDt1 / *]+C01 F1GDt1
Terms used to differentiate between campaign funding
that is and is not regulated by federal campaign finance
law. (Hard money) is a term used to describe donations by
individuals and groups made directly to political
candidates running for federal office that are regulated by
law. (Soft money) describes donations not regulated by
law that can be spent only on civic activities such as voter
registration drives, party-building activities, administrative
costs, and in support of state and local candidates. Soft
money contributions may not, by law, be used to directly
support a candidate for federal office.
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!8,"& 1&8#,$% !&*)QS$ )"F%1?: gR(" @S<$% sF).* 9SG 1"Wk.S$ P,%-(./%
>,)=$% 3)')(.*% - OI !"*"=, !"BU1, @)(.* E&G-$% . 1"L ;%&,A% ),I
% >,M*,$ / )+2)^*: !8," & !&*)QS$ )"F%1?: gR(. KD >*"S$% 3)4)U* 9SG :
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5SB,$% \&./,$%& >"&$% \&./, 9SG .
Hare Quota (Rarely Used) .6Gk " 3+. ) " *0H1|5D 3+A (
used in largest remainder PR electoral awarded. The
quota is ascertained by the following formula: total vote
divided by the number of seats.
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&<A% -"-B.$ J>"Q'.,$% 3% -G)Q,$% `*, >"^"8 . 1'G ).&8$% !, NQB.$% !8,"&
"<$% H > >"$).$% : -G)Q,$% --G 9SG 3%&<A% 0&,?, C"/Q. .
High Profile Race |,|w :S.]6
An election campaign for a particular office that voters are
interested in and want to hear about. High profile races
often receive the most votes. See Low Profile Race.
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Highest Average Method (Rarely Used)
@C[t1 98|W^01 *B,3o ) *0H1|5D 3+A (
A formula used with list PR systems to translate votes into
seats. Party vote totals are divided by a series of devisors,
under d'Hondt (by '-*-., etc.) or Sainte-Lagu (by '-.-!,
etc.) formula. After each stage the party with the highest
average wins the seat. The count continues with party
vote totals being divided by sequen-tial numbers until all
seats are filled.
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D " 3%&<A% 0&,?, C/Q .$% B )+$)* 5 @7 @?&,' JC/%&Q$% !, >S/S/ 9SG !"=,
>H"< " 3*&6- ) " & % 9SG >,/2 z & ~ p$: J ( &I " 3*)/ &L1 ) " & % 9SG >,/2 z
& X p$: J ( . -=' 7&^" J>SB1, ;8 -=Q,$)' 9SGA% ;-=,$% ;)* O#$% @7B$% .
J71^$% 1,./"& 9SG @7B$% )+$)* 5.$% 3%&<A% 0&,?, C"/Q. g, C)21A%
J>'2)=.,$% 9.B . 8 -G)Q,$% ;HU S )+ .
Horse Race `+N01 y.>! / *>Ce01
Polling questions or analysis focused on which candidates
are ahead and which behind.
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Horserace Question y.>! HE *>Ce01 F1Q! `+N01
A question on a political poll that asks, (if the election were
held today, would you vote for candidate X or candidate
Y.) This type of information is often of little use to the
campaign because it does not provide a reason for the
decision. The only horserace question that counts is at the
polls on Election Day. See Political Polling.
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5D 0%1.2% 78%1, 5')(.*% C&"$% . 5/)"/$% 0K4./% 1M*% .
Horse-Race Tracking `+N01 y.>! *W-.5D
Tracking polls may be taken every day by a candidate,
especially during the latter stages of a campaign, so that
he or she can see if progress is being made toward
victory. Tracking polls can reveal the true nature of the
political (horse-race,) i.e., who is in the lead and who is
trailing.
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!, >"')(.*% >S,B$% !, 7&^$% n)?.)' C-Q. OI >MBK, ;?I . >Q"QB !"'" %#6 " N)'/
;&"($% " >")+*$% 5D !,& >="S4$% 5D !, OI J .
How-to-Vote Cards 2135781 *+b+k 9.7.:-
Cards handed out to voters by party supporters at voting
centres showing how a party or candidate would like
voters to fill in their ballot papers.
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Ù1,$% &I @7B$% -"1" j"8 1+M.& >"')(.*% C+2%1&I !&'()*$% [," !I 5*=,$% .

Human Rights =.JU1 yGBd
The rights people are entitled to simply because they are
human beings, irres-pective of their citizenship, nationality,
race, ethnicity, language, sex, sexuality, or abilities.
Human rights become enforceable when they are codified
as conventions, covenants, or treaties, or as they become
recognized as customary international law.
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JP21G &I JP."/*? &I JP."*4%&, &I : )/*? &I JP/*? &I JP.H$ &I JP."*W ."* &I JP
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),-*G " j&$k, 5$&- !&*)Q8 )+' j1.= .
Hype *^NVD *,.[P / *+?.[P *T
Slang for political ads, e.g., slick, short TV commercials.
The term may also refer to exaggerated promises or
statements made by a candidate (or his supporters) on the
campaign trail.
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-&G& 9$: )R"I E1)'=$% n#6 -&=. Ù1,$% ;'2 !, 3)*)"'& >,(R, ) &I
)+"1<)*, ( >S,B$% 5D .

Image Maker &4Ga01 }J.I
There are a lot of people who are working on the image of
the candidate so that he/she become more convincing, in
a way or another, for the voters. They often talk about
psychoanalyzing the voters or the way a candidate
dresses or his public image and the way he/she appears
in the media. See Campaign Professionals.
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&I >Q"14' J!"'()*S$ )G)*2: \1(k' . ), )'$)L !G f)(UA% iF$&I d-B." ;"SB.$%
5D Ù1,$% >Q"14 !G &I !"'()*S$ 5*)/^*$% )+"D 1+M" 5.$% P.1&< &I o'S,$%
CKGb% ;K( !, . >S,B$% &D1.B, 1M*% .
Impartiality / Non-partisanship s+e501 X|[ / P.+d
Dealing with matters in a fair unbiased manner. It is the
operational expression of neutrality.
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B -)" .
Imperiali Quota (Rarely Used)
.6Gk " 3>DM @0., ) " *0H1|5D 3+A (
Sometimes used in largest remainder PR electoral
systems to determine how seats are awarded. The quota
is ascertained by the following formula: total vote divided
by the number of seats plus two.
% 5'/*$% ;"W,.$% >,M*I 5D )*)"BI C-(./. >"')(.* --G 1'8I 7)B !, gS4./. 5.$%
J>"Q'.,$% 3%&<A% !, -G)Q,$% `*, >"^"8 -"-B.$ . ).&8$% !, NQB.$% !8,"& 1'G
<$% >H" >"$).$% : --G 9SG 3%&<A% 0&,?, C"/Q. %7 J-G)Q,$% F - z .

Impersonation *+aN/01 F.e5J1
An illegal practice which consists of assuming to be
someone else with a view to voting in his/her place.
56 ),, 1 / f(U P*I @()*$% )+"D 5G-" J>"*&*)2 1"L > P*)8, 01.Q" 58 1(a .
Inclusive Registration `D.w `+6
In the context of elections, refers to a voter registration
process that includes all groups and categories of citizens.
!, !"'()*$% ;"?/. >"S,G 5*=" J3)')(.*% 1)/, 5D 3)FD& 3)G&,?, ;8
@=U$% .
Incumbent *b+<G01 À.w / j.N5J81 &P.[M
A candidate running again for an elected position that they
already hold.
HU" -=Q,$ 3)')(.*% l&(" Ù1,$% !I 5*=.& 1 n )"$)B .
Independents =GCB5D
Candidates for, or members of the legislature, who do not
belong to a political party.
!"#$% >"="1U.$% >F"+$% c)RGI &I !&BU1,$% C6 5/)"/ @7B 9$: !&,.*" .
Index of Disproportionality
9.6H.b5C0 @!.+7 c!4 / 9.6H.b501 ;3"S
A figure which illustrates the collective disparity between
the votes cast for parties in an election and the seats in
parliament they win.
5.$% 3%&<A% !"' g,?.,$% 3&)^.$% 1-<" C/1 &6 3)')(.*% 5D @%7BA% )+$)*.
5.$% -G)Q,$%& J>+? !, +? !, !),$1'$% 5D )67&B. \1(I > .
Indirect Vote 3w.>D 3+A j.N5J1
This vote cannot be used directly, but can be assigned to
a registered not-for-profit organisation, including
potentially a political party, that uses the voting power as
decided by the governance of the organisation, thus
rendering the identity of the vote holder anonymous. The
right to assign such votes creates what is called a proxy
market, as many organisations can compete to be trusted
with it.
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%#86& J5/)"/ @7B$ &I >$&+?, 3&<$% %#6 9SG ;<)B$% >"&6 !&8. . s.*"
gD-" O#$% >')"*$)' 3"&<.$)' 9,/" ), @)(.*% %#6 !G 9$: 3),M*,$% !, -"-=$%
)+' N&W&S$ oD)*.$% .

Informal Vote FGIt1 id :+0 / @^!4 3+A 213571
A ballot paper which is either left blank or is incorrectly
marked. These ballot papers are excluded from the count
and therefore do not contribute to the election of a
candidate.
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Ù1, @)(.*% >"S,G 5D C+/. & .
Instant Runoff Voting
<+ew3^01 i+636 ;.!E @C[ #,Ga501
Instant runoff voting (IRV) is a voting reform that asks the
voter to rank the candidates in order of preference.
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Institutional Polls _S 2135781 9.!Q^01
Institutional polls will be set up in health care facilities
(including hospitals and personal care homes) to collect
ballots from qualified voters. Institutional polls are held on
election day. Institutional Polls are also held in correctional
facilities.
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><)($% >")G1$% O&,& ( g,?$ 0%1.2K$ !"S6V,$% !"'()*$% 3%&<I . 5D C.. 56&
C&"$% 5')(.*% . )R"I 3)"BK<b% 5D C)Q.& .
Interest Groups v0.a^01 9.[.^f
Groups characterized by the will to influence political
decision-making, in order to successfully implement
certain political goals or values. They tend to be integrated
into the political process, although groups may at times
employ destructive methods in order to accomplish their
goals.
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&I >"/)"/ >")L N"QB. j-+' "2 C . C-(./. !8$& >"/)"/$% >"S,=$% 5D !&?,-*, C6
)+D%-6I N"QB.$ E1,-, )214 3)G),?$% l=' .

International Election Observers
=G+0H|01 9.-.N5J81 1G>713D
Observers who come from outside the country where
election is being held.
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International Polling Station Officer
#,Ga501 sk3D _S @0HP u<GD
An international polling station officer supports and assist
the presiding officer who is in charge of each station.
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Internet Campaigning 3>[ 9.[3>501 *C^d " #J35JU1 "
Any method of voter contact using computers and
communications net-work. Typically this involves de-
veloping campaign pages on the World Wide Web. While
this can be an inexpensive way to convey a lot of
information to those interested in the candidate and the
campaign, it is not an effective voter contact method
because it does not go to the voters. Instead voters have
to go to it.
@&/)B$% E7+?I C-(./. !"'()*$)' ;)<.K$ >S"/& OI 1'G ;)<.% N14&
>S"/&$% iS. !,R..& J>8'U$% >"$&-$% ;)<.% >8'U 5D >S,BS$ g2&, 1"&4. .
!I CL1& >$)=D 3/"$ )+*I 1"L >^S8, -=. iS. ;)<.% >S"/& ;)<.K$ >S"/&8
. )+*A @()*$)' ;&<&S$ %-+? ;#' & @()*$% 9$: : c5?,$% @()*$% !, @S4. ),*
: )+"$ .

Internet Voting #J35JU1 3>[ #,Ga501
See Remote Internet Voting.
0%1.2% 781, !G %-"=' 3*1.*b% 1'G 3"&<.$% 1M*% .
Invalid Votes ò.- 213571 / >8 / &./CD *74H
Wrongly marked ballot paper which will not be counted.
$%& k4($% N"14 !G >,S=,$% 3)')(.*% 3)2)4' S, G 9H - )6 .
Invalidation of Elections 9.-.N5J81 F.:-M
It is the annulment of Elections, it may result where: votes
of winner inaccurate & may affect result, winner illegally
obstructs other candidate from campaigning, winner
illegally prevents voters from casting votes freely, and
winner uses fraud or other illegal means to affect result.
!"7F)^$% 3%&Q"2- 1"L
>?".*$% 9SG . T' 7F)^$% C&Q" >2)G !"'()*$% g*,"& !"BU1,$% -BA >"')(.*% >S,B$%
!, &I J>S"B 9$: k?S" #: J>"*&*)2 1"L >Q"14' 1B$% 3"&<.$% J0-($% !, )61"L
>?".*$% 9SG 1"Wk.S$ .
Itinerant Elector `B]5D ? FG5D iO.J
A person who does not reside in any district, but whose
name has been placed on the register of electors.
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J
Jurisdiction *+dqI
The geographical area over which a court or government
body has the power and right to exercise authority.
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/1),, )+.4S/ > .

K
Kitchen Cabinet =G-3BD =H4./5D / @>:01 :CD
A term used to describe the key advisors to a candidate
informally organized so as not to attract attention.
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C),.6% %&'#?" 9.B >",/1 w% ( !"1 .
L
Landslide 9.-.N5J81 _S 'd.! \GS
An election in which one candidate defeats the other by a
very large margin.
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Largest Remainder Method
(Rarely Used) *+B>5^01 91GIt1 @C[E *B,3o ) *0H1|5D 3+A (
The Hare, Droop and Imperiali calcula-tion methods which
translate votes into seats within list PR systems. There are
two stages to the count. First, parties are awarded seats in
proportion to the num-ber of quotas they fulfill (quotas vary
depending on which of the three systems are used).
Second, remaining seats are awarded to parties on the
basis of the left over votes they possess after the /quota&
stage of the count. Largest remainder seats are allocated
in order of vote size.
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3%&<A% .
Lawn Signs .DE 9.5S8 F\.]^01 X
Large signs with the candidate&s name on them and the
office they are seeking which can be put in on lawns and
other areas near roads. Lawn signs are good for
increasing name recognition of the candidate and
reminding people to vote. See Visibility.
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Leadership Qualities *,P.+7 9.bI
The particular traits people are looking for in those that
represent them.
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Legal Division @JGJ.7 c7
May be responsible for drafting new election laws and
procedures and inter-preting the law for the national body
to determine its position on legal chal-lenges and
complaints.
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Legal Exclusion @JGJ.7 P.W>5!1
Voters legally excluded from registering and voting on
grounds including such conditions as property ownership,
wealth, literacy, race, gender and mental fitness.
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Legal Framework *+JGJ.7 *+CK+. / @JGJ.7 4.oM
Structure of electoral processes consist-ing of the
constitutional rules, electoral laws, complementary
regulations and explicit or implicit codes of conduct.
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M
Mail |,3-
A voter contact method in which cam-paign literature is
sent through the post to voters. Depending on the type of
voter file or mailing list you have, this literature can be
targeted to voters based on geography or demographics.
See Campaign Literature and Voter File.
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Mail Registration |,3>0.- `+501
Registration through the postal system. An alternative to
enumeration or regis-tration centres, or as a supplement.
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),+"$: >D)RT8 &I J;"?/.$% .
Majority *+>CAE
Fifty percent of the votes cast plus one vote. This as
opposed to a simple plu-rality of the vote or the most votes
cast. See Plurality.
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&I 3%&<[$ >4"/' >"--=. )+' 9$-,$% 3%&<A% 1W8I . >"--=. 1M*% / >"'SLI .
Majority System *+>CAt1 X.YJ / h3zkE
An electoral formula in which the win-ning candidate must
receive more than half (!"$ + ') of the votes cast.
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Majority-Runoff (Two-Round System)
(Rarely Used) h3zkt1 X.Y]C0 *^!.e01 &4H|01 ) h3zkE X.YJ
<+64HP (
The most common method for the sec-ond round of voting
in a Two-Round System is a straight (run-off) contest
between the two highest vote-winners from the first round
- this we term a majority-runoff system.
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Malapportionment A+:N501 5G!
The uneven distribution of voters between electoral
districts.
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Mandate |"[ / cKe01 &|D / *,8H / C,Gb6
A command or an authorization given by a political
electorate to its representative. The period of time that this
representa-tive stays in office is also called mandate.
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Manifesto @-.N5J1 =.+-
A public declaration of intentions (as issued by a political
party or government).
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Manufactured Majority (Rarely Used)
*W]a^01 *,3zkt1 ) *0H1|5D 3+A (
Where a single party wins less than !" per cent of the
valid votes, but an absolute majority of the parliamentary
seats.
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>"*),$1'$% -G)Q,$% !, >QB)/$% >"1W8A)' .
Margin of Error (sampling error)
AC/01 HE 2:N01 ED..
In a public opinion poll, the plus or minus range within
which the final per-centages may fall due to sampling
error%what the true results would be if everyone in the
population were actual-ly interviewed (a sample is only a
very small portion of the entire population).

N
Name Recognition c!81 @C[ p3W501
Identification of the candidate&s name by the voters. Often
voters will know little about the candidates and therefore
vote for the name that they recognize. It is important for
candidates to have the voters associate their name with
their message because only the name will appear on the
ballot.
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Negative Ads *+>C! *+!.+! 9.Jq[M
Political advertisements that attack a candidate&s
opponent, often trying to destroy the opponent&s character.
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P^2%&,' j)^(./%& .
Neutral Political Environment
A political environment aiming at having and supporting
free, fair, and credi-ble elections.
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Neutrality P.+d
A voting system is neutral if the system does not favor any
alternative. Although it may seem obvious that voting
systems should be neutral, some are designed specifically
not to be neutral in order to promote government stability
or ensure that a decision is made. In fact, many systems
that have tie-breaking rules that do not employ a random
choice violate neutrality. For example, parliamentary
voting systems in which ``yea'' and ``nay'' votes are taken
generally favor the nay side in the event of a tie. Thus they
are biased towards the nay alternative and are not neutral.
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>"-)"B 3/"$ 56 5$).$)'& .
Nomination v+w36 / *+^6 / +W6 <+
The process by which candidates indicate their intention to
compete in an election within specified time. Often subject
to submission of a required number of signatures and/or to
the payment of a deposit.
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@&S4, --=$ 0&R(S$ >R1G & 3%c)R,b% !, / 0%-": &I tS', gD- 9$: &I .
Nominee vw3D
The person that a political party chooses to represent it in
a general election. This is called Nomination.
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Non-Blank Vote/Ballot
*DG!GD 213571 *74H / n.+- @C[ #+0
A non-blank vote ballot is simply that-a mark is made on
the ballot-the voter voted for any of the candidates on the
ballot. See Blank Vote.
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>2)4'$% 9SG Ù1, . >21& 1M*% c)R"' / l)"' 9SG >2)4' .
O
Observation-((Watch) *>713D
The process that sees that the election is being carried out
in accordance with the law and whether candidates,
parties and votes are able to participate on an equal basis.
Short-term observation encom-passes voting day and the
count. Long term observation encompasses monitoring
and assessing holistically the entire election process. A
guarantee of the honesty of the electoral process.
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Office i5KD / ia]D
(of a government or government official) holding an office
means being in power.
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Ommitted Voter 1 h41PM P.W>5!
The name of a qualified voter that has been omitted from
the voters list by the py the enumerators .
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-=$)' !"S8&,$% .
One-Area Election &|d1G01 *B:]^01 9.-.N5J1
An election that takes place entirely in a single area not
divided into districts.
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Open List *dG5bD *e?8 / &|^D 3+A
In the context of elections, the variant of party-list
proportional representation in which voters have at least
some influence on which specific candidates may be
chosen, as opposed to the closed-list system whereby
voters can effectively only vote for political parties as a
whole and thus have no influence on the order in which
party candidates are elected (that order being supplied by
the party itself).
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!"*"=, .

Open Primary &|^D 3+A ? *dG5bD *+0HE 9.-.N5J1
A primary election that differs from a closed primary in that
all voters, regardless of party affiliation, may vote for a
party&s nominee.
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!G 1M*$% lH' J!"G1.Q,$% ;8 5'7B Ù1,$ 3"&<.$% J>"'7B$% C+.)')/.*% .
Operations Division 9.+C^W01 c7
Responsible for the procurement and distribution of
election materials, identification of voting sites and the
creation of timetables for the different functions at election
time.
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jF)M&$)' -"G%&, ;&I -? gR&& " >^S.,$% @)(.*% C& .

Opinion Leaders hE301 &P.7
Opinion leaders are people in the community who can
influence others.
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>2-)<$% 1M*% .

P
Paid Media 3f2- Xq[U1 HE 2GS|^01 Xq[U1
Any advertisements the campaign pays to have placed in
the mass media, such as television, radio or newspapers.
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&"-%1$%& !&"7^S.$% ;W, >",KGb% D)B<$%& > .
Palm Card uK01 *7.:-
A standard piece of campaign literature to describe the
candidate and provide a reason to vote for him. This
should provide a clear summary of the campaign
message. See Campaign Literature and Message.
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!,R.. !I @?"& JP$ 3"&<.S$ >S,B$% >$)/1$ >BR%& ><K( . 3)"'-I 1M*%
>S,B$% .
Parallel System \1G5D X.YJ
(Parallel system) is where the ward and proportional
representation voting systems run completely separately
and there is no attempt to integrate the two sets of .
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),+?,-$ >$&)B, >"I -?&" l='' .
Parliament j1G]01 :CD
The political assembly in which elected representatives
debate and vote upon proposed laws. The word
/parliament& comes from '!th century English, and from a
French word meaning /talking place&.
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Partisan @-sd
Anything relating to the political party. When an election is
partisan, it means that party affiliation matters and may be
listed on the ballot. See Non-Partisan.
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Party Observer jse01 i713D
See Party Agent.
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Party jsd
A group of people who join together because they share
many ideas about what the government should do.
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Party Agent/ Proxy @-sd `+kH / jH|]D / @-sd |^5WD
A political party agent is appointed by its party and
accredited by the NEC for electoral observation. Agents of
political parties also include signatories of a party
assigned to carry out specific affairs of the party. Also
known as Proxy.
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l=' @7BS$ E--B,$% !&VU$% .
Party List *+-sd *^?.7 / *+-sd *e?8
This is a method of voting where the voters vote for a
party and the party selects the candidates based on the
percentage of the vote it receives.
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Party Representation @-sd `+z^6
A representative of a party who may be present during the
vote and the counting of the votes. This term may also
apply to a national or regional officer of a party.
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;&V/, 9SG i$# N'4*" -2& 5,"S2: &I 5*4& 5'7B .

Q
Q&A *-GfEH *C,!E
Questions and Answers. See Press Q&A.
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Qualification 9q.QD / *+C.E
The qualities that are in a person and that might qualify
him/her in the process of demonstrating whether he /she
is capable of fulfilling specified require-ments to run for
elections, or to register to vote in an election...
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Quick Count Results \3b01 r?.5J },301
Results obtained through a quick count process used
where the collation of the overall results can take a
lengthy period.
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_K"&4 ).2& N1H./. .
Quota Gad ? *B>^01 Gae01 X.YJ *+>J / .6Gk
A number or percentage, especially of a certain gender or
ethnic group or minority or unprivileged people,
consti-tuting a required or targeted minimum so that the
targeted groups fill the assigned number of seats.
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-G)Q,$% --=$% E--B,$% >"')(.*% .
R
Race y.>!
An election campaign is often compared to a running race
in which candidates (run for office.) See Running for
Office.
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3)')(.*% l&( @QG 5')(.*% . -=Q,S$ 5/D)*.$% N)'/$% 1M*% / Ù1.$% .
Ratified I+C[ y|aD / X3>D
Formal approval by voters or other persons of proposed
policies, laws, or decisions.
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Reactive Campaign *Wb]D *C^d
A campaign that spends its resources responding to the
political landscape and what happens during the
campaign. This is a campaign that lacks a plan, is always
behind and cannot set the agen-da. See Proactive
Campaign.
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Recheck *Wf13^01 &P.[M / Geb01
A recheck is a normal procedure under-taken by an
election manager before a preference count is conducted.
All ballot papers are re-examined and counted again.
Scrutineers are entitled to be pres-ent and should be
aware of any correct-ed figures before a preference count
is commenced. (This term should not be confused with the
term (Recount)).
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Recount 91GIt1 \3S &P.[M
A second or further count of votes in an election.
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Redistribution *+-.N5J81 3?1H|01 }+:B6 &P.[M / },\G6 &P.[M
A new arrangement of the electoral divi-sions in a state or
territory with the result that the boundaries of some
existing divisions are changed.
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>"')(.*% 1F%&-$% 4F%1( .
Redistricting *+-.N5J81 3?1H|01 `,|W6
The process by which individual states redraw district
boundaries to adjust for changes in the population.
-&-B ;"-=. E-)G: >"S,=' E-1^*,$% 3)"&$% l=' C&Q. i$#& >"')(.*% 1F%&-$%
3%1""H.$% g, j"8..$ !)8/S$ 5,/1$% c)<Bb% @/B >"*)8/$% .
Redivision c+B6 &1PE
The redrawing of electoral boundaries to ensure that there
are, as near as possible, equal numbers of voters in each
electorate.
!"'()* --G !),R$ >"')(.*% -&-B$% -"-B. E-)G: 5D J!)8,b% 1-2 9SG J&)/.,
E1F%- ;8 .
Referendum 5.5b5!1
The legal process of submitting to the voters for their
approval or rejection of proposed state of local laws or
constitu-tional amendments.
q%1.2% ;&'Q' 3"&<.$% N"14 !G !"*4%&,$% E1)U./% PRD1 &I --B, . k?S.
E1)U./ c).^./% 9$: >,&8B$% &I Jq%1.2% &I J>*"=, >"R2 ;&B !"*4%&,$%
D1 q%1.2% l O1&./- ;"-=. &I 5SB, !&*)2 .
Salvaged Votes &P35D 91GIE
The votes of a dropped candidate. These votes are not
dropped, they are salvaged and transferred to the next
choice on each ballot.
>/D)*,$% E1F%- !, m1( Ù1, 3%&21& 9SG .
Sampling of Results r?.5]01 <D 9.]+[ 4.+5O1
A small part of the results intended as representative of
the whole.
c7? 1"H< ;8$% ;"W,. 9$: j-+" sF).*$% !, .
Scheduler FH|D
The person in the campaign responsible for keeping the
campaign calendar, the candidate&s calendar and
responding to invitations.
>S,BS$ C)=$% ;?/$% !G ;&V/, >S,B$% !, f(U &6 7&1$%& *), ;?/$%& >
9SG -1$%& Ù1,S$ 5*,7$% 3I CG-$% .
Scrutineer'7|D
A person appointed by a candidate to observe voting and
the scrutiny and count of ballot papers to satisfy their
candidate that the poll was conducted strictly in
accordance with the law.
" 1,$ Ù1,$% P*"= % G& N"2-.$& 3)')(.*% >'2 - N%1&I !k' 0)*.2K$ i$#& 0%1.2%
@/B 1"/. 3)')(.*% $% Q &*) ! .
Scrutiny '+7|6
The checking and counting of ballot papers to ascertain
the result of an election.
sF).* !, NQB.S$ 0%1.2% 3)2)4' !G& >=?%1, 3)')(.*% .
Seat |WBD
Another term for division; used because the candidate
elected then has a seat in parliament.
C"/Q. >,S8$ 1(a 1"'=. " @(.*,$% Ù1,S$ !A ;,=./. !),$1'$% 5D -=Q, .
Seat Allocation |[.B^01 },\G6
In the context of elections, the process of distributing the
seats in a legislative assembly to political parties or
candi-dates on the basis of the number of votes they have
obtained.
>"=,?$% 5D -G)Q,$% g"7&. &6 J3)')(.*% N)"/ 5D >"/)"/$% @%7B[$ >"="1U.$%
o)/I 9SG !"BU1,$% &I )+"SG %&S<B 5.$% 3%&<A% --G .
Second Ballot Electoral System
@J.z01 21357q0 @-.N5J1 X.YJ
See Two-Round System.
781 C)M* 1M*% !".1&- 9SG O .
Secret Ballot #,Ga501 *,3! / h301 2135781
Principle of voting that ensures that no one will know
which political party or candidate the voter has chosen.
n1)".(% >"1/ 01.Q,S$ !,R" O#$% @)(.*% I-', Ù1,S$ &I 5/)"/$% @7BS$ .
Semi-Proportional System @>J uaJ X.YJ
Semi-PR systems are those which inher-ently translate
votes cast into seats won in a way that falls somewhere
between the proportionality of Proportional Representation
(PR) systems and the majoritarianism of plurality-majority
systems.
-G)Q,$% --=' 3%&<A% )/)/I C?1." O#$% C)M*$% &6 !&BxU1,$% )x+' 7)xD 5.$%
!"' gQ. >"'"1Q. >Q"14 9$: k?S"& O1x'8A% C)xM*$% >"1W8I& 5'/*$% C)M*$% >"'/*
O--=.$% .
T
Tabulation of Votes 91GIt1 *0H|f / 91GIt1 j.5d1
The process of compiling the result of a count at the
election.
3)')(.*% 5D -=$% sF).*$ g,?$% >"S,G .
Tactics 7+5K501
A procedure or set of maneuvers engaged in to achieve
an end, an aim, or a goal.
>S,B$% -1%&, ;KH./% C." )+$K( !, 5.$% >S"/&$% 56 5D 5?".%1./% &B* 9SG
>S,B$% j-6 N"QB. .
Tally Room |W01 *S3A
Location where election results are displayed on election
night.
3)')(.*% >"UG 3)')(.*% sF).* 1I -<1 781, &6 .
Tally Sheet/ Reconciliation Sheet
91GIt1 =.+- / 91GIt1 3VeD
The form used for counting of ballots.
-=$ E-,.=,$% E1),./% 0%1.2% 3)2)4' .
Target Voters =GS|"5D =G>O.J
Voters whom the campaign believes are most likely to be
persuaded by the campaign&s message and thus provide
the margin of victory. See Message and Margin of Victory.
!"S')2 >S,B$% C6%1. !"#$% !"'()*$% !, &6& 0)*2h$ )U,)6 !&^"R"& >$)/1$)'
7&^S$ . v,)6& >$)/1$% 1M*% 7&^$% .
Targeting p1|"5!1
The process of dividing the voting population into smaller
groups and determining which of the votes you want to
concentrate your message on to provide the margin of
victory. See Demographic Targeting and Geogra-phic
Targeting.
3)G&,?, 9$: !"'()*$% 1&+,? C"/Q. >"S,G 56& 1H[ #,Ga501 / 135781 2
Telephone voting allows people to call different telephone
numbers to indicate preference for different options, or a
voter might call one number and indicate a preference by
pressing buttons in a menu system. Its main drawback is
the difficulty in verifying the identity of the voter and in
permitting only one vote per person. Its chief advantage is
the ease in getting people to participate.
j.%&6 C)21k' ;)<.% @=US$ 0%1.2% %#6 `*/" C+."SRDI 1)+Mb JE--=.,
!8," &I >^S.,$% 3%1)".(K$ 1' ;)<.% 01.Q,S$ 4HR$% )6-='& J!"=, -B%& C2
9SG E--B, >,F)2 ;K( !, C)21A% . %#6 5D -"B&$% NF)=$% >D1=, C-G &6 C)M*$%
-B%& 3&< c)4G:& @()*$% >"&6 P$ . 5D >81)U,$% ;"+/. 5+D P*, E-F)^$% J&I
>"S,G 3"&<.$% .
Teller @ae^01
Person appointed to help count votes.
$ !"=,$% f(U$% &6 3%&<A% 71D 5D E-G)/,S .
Tendered Ballot ."5ea0 *>]0.- ;4|01 |+7 #,Ga6 *74H
Ballot, where the right of the voter is disputed or in doubt.
Tendered votes are placed in envelopes, provisionally
accepted, and subject to verification before being
accepted for the count.
iU &I ;%-? 5D 01.Q,$% NB gR. 5.$% >21&$% . O1?" 5D >21&$% n#6 gR&
)+*8$& J>.2V, >$&'Q, 56 & Jj1M -=S$ )+$&'2 ;'2 )+*, -8k.S$ >R1G .
U
Unbiased s+e5D 3+A
Without favor or blame, objective.
O-)"B J5=R&, JC&$ &I -""k. !&- .
Underdog uWV5D vw3D / u+WT
In politics, the candidate who is viewed as trailing his or
her opponent and/or is not favored to win the election.
However, underdogs have been known to overcome the
odds, especially in state and local races.
& P,<( g'." O#$% Ù1,$% &6 J>/)"/$% 5D / &I 3)')(.*% 5D -""k.' 9MB" .
P*I j&1=,$% !, !8$& 3)2&1^$% 9SG @SH.$% j=R./,$% Ù1,S$ !8,"
5SB,$% N)'/$% &I >"&$% N)'/ 5D )<&<( .
Unenrolled jse0 }-.6 3+A
Registered voter not affiliated with any major political
party; informally known as (independent).
!I 1"L !, J;+/ 5D P,/% m1-" O#$% @()*$% &6 5/)"/ @7B 5DI 9$: @/.*"
1"L ;8U' j1="D JC.+, 5,/1 " ;Q./,$)' ."
Unicameral Parliament `+z^501 hP.dE =.^03-
Having a single legislative chamber.
-B%& oS?, !),$1'S$ !&8" ),-*G .
Universal Suffrage X.[ 213571 / `D.w
The right of all the eligible voters to participate in the
electoral process without discrimination based on gender,
property rights, ethnicity, residence, race, etc...
7"",. !&- !"-U%1$% !"*4%&,$% ;8 E-F)^$ 3"&<.$% NB &I Jo*?$% o)/I 9SG
1=$% &I J>"8S,$% p$: >"*W% &I N ...
Unmarked Ballot *74H / *DG!GD 3+A *7.:-
See Rejected Ballot.
>21&$% 1M*% / $% >2)4'$% , E-='./ .

Unofficial Results *+^!4 3+A r?.5J
Results published by the media.
56 $% * ). F s CKGb% )61U*" 5.$% .

Unused Ballot *C^W5D 3+A *7.:- / *74H
Any ballot in excess of the number required which has not
been used during the election.
KD J@&S4,$% --=$% !G -"7. 5.$% 3)2)4'$% 56 3)')(.*% ;K( C-(./" .

Upper House .+CW01 *+W,3/501 *,+"01
It is the Legislative Council, one of the two houses of State
Parliament. Usually referred to as the Senate. This house
is generally less powerful than the lower house. It is often
called the /house of review& as this is one of its major
functions.
!),$1'$% 5/S?, -BI J5="1U.$% oS?,$% 5D . P"$: 1)UI !&"U$% oS?,' )R"I .
#&^* !, ;2I oS?,$% %#6 #&^* $% >F"+$% . ="1U " )"*-$% > . >",/. P"$: @/*" ), )'$)L
" >=?%1,$% oS?, " P,)+, 71'I !, n#6 !&8 J .
V
Valid Vote v+eI 213571 J 9GI ? v0.I
A vote cast in an election, marked according to the rules.
Also known as Formal Vote.
<.$% >"-k. -G%&QS$ )Q'4 @)(.*% 5D 3"& . )R"I j&1=, 3&<$)' / 3"&<.$%
>",/1$% .
Values c+7
The principles considered desirable by the voters.
!"'()*$% \-$ >'&L1, -=. 5.$% {-)',$% 56& .
Veto CS301 'd ? n135[81 'd
From the Latin term veto means (I for-bid). The vested
power or constitutional right of one branch or department
of government to refuse approval of meas-ures proposed
by another department, especially the power of a chief
executive to reject a bill passed by the legislature and thus
prevent or delay its enactment into law.
>"*".K$% !, " g*,I )*I ." !, -B%&' >4&*,$% >4S/$% 56 J)+,)/2I &I >,&8B$% 0&1D
n#+$ O1&./-$% NB$% 56 &I )+.B1.2% 3%c%1?: 9SG >QD%&,$% lD1. !k' JC)/2A%
1(a C/2 &I E1F%- " O#"^*.$% o"F1$% >4S/ ><)( 56 P.12I )*&*)2 lD1" !k'
" i$#'& >"="1U.$% >4S/$% &I g*, / 1(V" P* !&*)Q8 .
Visibility 9.+?3D
The voter contact method in which the candidate&s name
is advertised on signs, t-shirts, cups and just about
anything else. If seen enough this can often raise the
candidates name recognition but it does little to persuade
voters with a cam-paign message.
;W,.& JÙ1,$% C/% )+"D 1+M" !"'()*$)' ;)<.K$ >S"/& >,&/1,$% 3%1)=U$%
OI &I 3).DK$% 9SG @.8" ),& >'&.8,$%& 1(a c5U . j)8 32&$ )+."V1 -1?,'D
9SG j1=.$% !8," >S,B$% >$)/1' !"'()*$% %1"W8 g*Q. )+*8$& JÙ1,$% C/% .
Volunteer 2G:5D
A supporter of the candidate who gener-ally spends some
of their time helping the campaign without being paid a
salary.
JC&,=$% 5D J32&$% l=' 5RQ"& Ù1,S$ -"V, &6 &I ;')Q, !&- >S,B$% E-G)/,$
1?I .
Volunteer Coordinator <+[G:5^01 ']D
A person on the campaign staff responsible for recruiting
and scheduling volunteers.
!G ;&V/, >S,B$% 5D !"S,)=$% >F"6 !, f(U >$&-?& !"G&4.,$% @)4Q./%
C+.)2&I .
Vote 9GI
Choice by an elector about party, candi-date or issue,
expressed through a ballot at an election or a referendum.
;K( !, >"R2 &I JÙ1, &I J@7B$ 01.Q,$% 1)".(% C)=$% c).^./% &I 0%1.2% .

Vote Counting Assistant |[.D / \3b01 4GD2D
Vote Counting Assistant is the person who assist in
counting votes .
3%&<A% 71D 5D -G)/" !, &6 .

Vote Counting Officer 91GIt1 \3S <[ FHQD
Vote Counting Officer can visit premis-es and conduct the
count for, or assist, the Returning Officer, either manually
on paper, or with computers.
1&,k, !G )R&G 71^$% 1"-"& J0%1.2% 781, 1&7" !I P*8," &I J@)(.*%
: Jn-G)/" ').8 )" 1'G ),I& JN1&$% 9SG 1.&"',&8$% E7+?I .
W
Ward Representation 'o.]^01 `+z^6
Representation by an area of a city that is devided into
precincts.
7F)D Ù1, @"<* !, !&8. 5.$% 3%&<A% 56 . 3%&<A% &6 )+R='
1, )+,M=, !8$ J>D7*./,$% "- n .
Wasted Votes &P|>D 91GIE
It is a vote that does not end up on a win-ning candidate.
Some of these will be the exhausted votes but most are
caused by poor election methods and/or poor design
features of the entire election system being used.
& J>4"/'$% @)(.*% ;F)/& / >ÛQ.,$% C",)<.$% &I ;88 N'4,$% 5')(.*% C)M*S$ .

Winner-Take-All j.N5J81 %.5k1
In the simplest kind of election, the can-didate who
receives the most votes wins, or (takes all.) Most
elections, whether of government officials or in the private
sector, are decided on a winner-take-all basis. The winner
is the person who receives a plurality of at least one vote.
9QS." O#$% Ù1,$% 7&^" J4/'A% 3)')(.*% C)M* 5D 3%&<A% !, 1'8A% --=$% "
P*I 1'.G)D " `/.8% 3)')(.*% ." J3)')(.*% CM=, sF).* 1"1Q. C+."& c%&/ 3QS=.
0)4Q$% 1%1-, &I !"",&8B$% !"$&V/,$% 3)')(.*)' q)/.8% C)M*$ QD& J><)($%
3)')(.*% . !, &6 7F)^$)D 9SG -B%& @&< N1)^' J3%&<A% >"1W8I 9QS."
;2A% .
Writ of Election *+-.N5J81 *+C^W01 c+Y]5- 3DE
Writ is a document commanding an electoral officer to
hold an election and contains dates for the close of rolls,
the close of nominations, the polling day and the return of
the writ.
!G ;&V/,$% 1,k. >"')(.*% >*?S$% o"F1 )+=2&" >Q"W& >=4)Q, 5D 3)')(.*%
& >"')(.*% >"S,G C"M*.' >"')(.*% / &I ). 5D ic).^./% --B, p"1 .

Write-in ballot 2135781 *74H @C[ c!1 *S.TM
See Absentee Voting.
5')"L 0%1.2% 1M*% .

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