noun

election

A process of choosing a person for office by voting.

Our town holds an election for mayor every four years.

Etymology

Latin electio named an act of choosing. The political sense specializes that general action to selecting an officeholder through votes.

More examples

  • She wins the election for class president by two votes.
  • Voters can cast their ballots before election day.
  • The club holds elections for its officers each spring.

Forms

election · elections

elect verb — Choose someone for office by voting.

electoral adjective — Relating to elections or the voting process.

Similar words

vote
Can mean a decision on issues, not just officeholders.
ballot
Emphasizes the voting procedure rather than the entire selection process.