Bal"lot (?), n. [F. ballotte, fr. It. ballotta. See Ball round body.]
1.
Originally, a ball used for secret voting. Hence: Any printed or written ticket used in voting.
2.
The act of voting by balls or written or printed ballots or tickets; the system of voting secretly by balls or by tickets.
The insufficiency of the ballot.
Dickens.
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3.
The whole number of votes cast at an election, or in a given territory or electoral district.
Ballot box, a box for receiving ballots.
© Webster 1913.
Bal"lot (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Balloted; p. pr. & vb. n. Balloting.] [F. ballotter to toss, to ballot, or It. ballottare. See Ballot, n.]
To vote or decide by ballot; as, to ballot for a candidate.
© Webster 1913.
Bal"lot, v. t.
To vote for or in opposition to.
None of the competitors arriving to a sufficient number of balls, they fell to ballot some others.
Sir H. Wotton.
© Webster 1913.