Governing States and Localities, Chapter 5

Plurality

Plurality

The highest number of votes garnered by any of the candidates for a particular office, but short of an outright majority.

Office Group (Massachusetts) Ballot

A ballot in which candidates are listed by name under the title of the office they are seeking.

Party Column (Indiana) Ballot

A ballot in which the names of candidates are divided into columns arranged according to political party.

Straight Ticket

Originally, a type of ballot that allowed voters to pick all of one party's candidates at one; today, voting a straight ticket refers to voting for all of one party's candidates for various offices - for instance - voting for all Democrats or all Republicans.

Secret (Australian) Ballot

A ballot printed by a state that allows voters to pick and choose among different candidates and party preferences in private.

Blanket Primary

An initial round of voting in which candidates from all parties appear in the same ballot, with the top two vote-getters proceeding on to the general elections.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of voting-eligible citizens who register to vote and do vote.

Nonpartisan Election

An election in which the candidates do not have to declare party affiliation or receive a party's nomination; local offices and elections are often nonpartisan.

Plural Executive System

A state government system in which the governor is not the dominant figure in the executive branch but, instead, is more of a first among equals, serving alongside numerous other officials who are elected to their offices rather than appointed by the governor.

Recall

A way for voters to oust an incumbent politician prior to the next regularly scheduled election; they collect signatures to qualify the recall proposal for the ballot and then vote on the ouster of the politician.

Redistricting

The drawing of new boundaries for congressional and state legislative districts, usually following a decennial census.