Election Terminology
Sometimes the problem with politics and elections is that most of us don’t always have a clue about what we’re being told! We’ve been told that it’s one of the reasons why soem of us never vote or pay any attention to politics. It’s only when we realise that politics is in all of our lives every day, that we start to pay attention. It’s such a shame that most politicions don’t talk in Plain English! They might as well be talking Latin! Anyway, here’s a list of some of the terms and phrases you may hear during an election and what they actually mean!
Absentee ballot A vote cast by someone who cannot reach a polling station. Can be postal or by proxy (see below).
Agent A person who represents candidates in their dealings with the electoral authorities and runs their campaigns.
Ballot Another term for vote.
Ballot box Sealed box with a slit in the lid, into which voters place their ballot papers.
Ballot paper Paper containing a list of all candidates standing in a constituency. Voters mark their choice with a cross.
Candidate Someone putting themselves up for election.
Canvassing During a campaign, active supporters of a party ask voters who they will vote for and try to drum up support for their own candidates.
Election expenses Candidates are only allowed to spend a limited amount of money on their individual campaign. Accounts must be submitted after the poll proving they did not exceed this limit.
Electoral register A list of all those in a constituency entitled to vote. Also known as electoral roll.
Exit poll A poll asking people how they have voted just after they have left the polling station.
First past the post Term used to describe the UK’s parliamentary election system. It means a candidate only needs a simple majority – more votes than his or her rivals – to be elected.
General election Election at which all seats in the House of Commons are contested. General elections must take place at least every five years, but are usually held after about four years on a date chosen by the prime minister.
Manifesto A public declaration of a party’s ideas and policies, usually printed during the campaign. Once in power, a government is often judged by how many of its manifesto promises it manages to deliver.
MP Member of Parliament Strictly this includes members of the House of Lords, but in practice means only members of the House of Commons. When an election is called Parliament is dissolved and there are no more MPs until it assembles again.
Opinion poll A survey asking people’s opinion on one or more issues. In an election campaign, the key question is usually about which party people will vote for.
Poll Another term for vote or election.
Polling clerk The person in the polling station who checks the electoral register to verify that the voter is eligible to cast his vote and at that particular polling station.
Polling day Election day.
Polling station Location where people go to cast their votes.
Postal vote People unable to get to a polling station are allowed to vote by post if they apply in advance. They are also allowed a proxy vote.
Presiding officer The person responsible for ensuring the conduct of the ballot in polling stations. They have to ensure that ballot boxes are kept secure and are responsible for transferring them safely to the count.
Proxy vote People unable to get to a polling station are allowed to appoint someone to vote on their behalf if they apply in advance. They are also allowed a postal vote.
Recount If a result is close, any candidate may ask for a recount. The process can be repeated several times if necessary until the candidates are satisfied. The returning officer has the final say on whether a recount takes place.
Referendum A binding vote of the whole country on a single issue.
Returning officer The official in charge of elections in each of the constituencies.
Safe seat A constituency in which the holding party has a big lead to defend. Often regarded as being a margin of 15-20% or more.
Spin The attempt to place a favourable interpretation on an event so that people or the media will interpret it in that way. Those performing this act are known as spin doctors.
Spoiled ballots Ballot papers which have been filled in incorrectly. The returning officer has the final say over whether any paper not marked with a single cross is valid.
Swing The transfer of votes from one party to another. The actual transfer is complicated, so usually taken to mean between the top two parties in any seat or area.
Tactical voting This is when people vote not for the party they really support, but for another party in order to keep out a more disliked rival.
Target seats In theory, any seat that a party contests and held by a rival is one of its targets. In practice, a target seat is one that a party believes it can win and puts a lot of effort into doing so.
Tellers Representatives of parties who wait outside polling stations and ask people for their number on the electoral roll. This is to help the parties ensure all their supporters have voted. Tellers have no official status and no-one is obliged to give them any information.
Turnout The number or percentage of people eligible to vote who actually do so.