Terms Glossary

Ballot access refers to the legal process by which candidates and political parties qualify to have their names included on the ballot in an election.

Ballot chasing, also known as "ballot harvesting," is a political practice involving the collection and submission of absentee or mail-in ballots by individuals other than the voter. While the specifics can vary by jurisdiction, this process typically involves party operatives, volunteers, or activi...

Ballot fatigue refers to the phenomenon where voters become overwhelmed and fatigued by the number of choices on the ballot, which in turn may lead to decreased voter turnout or a lower likelihood of casting a vote for certain candidates or measures. Ballot fatigue can be caused by a variety of fact...

Ballot harvesting is a process in which political campaigns or third parties collect and submit absentee ballots on behalf of voters. This practice, which has been increasingly used in recent elections, aims to increase voter turnout by assisting those who may have difficulty submitting their ballot...

A ballot measure is a law, issue, or topic that is put on a ballot for voters to vote on its passage or rejection. Ballot measures can range from simple questions, such as whether to raise taxes, to more complicated questions like changing the voting system. Examples of ballot measures include the p...

Ballot order is a system that determines the order in which candidates are listed on a ballot paper. It is a key factor in influencing the outcomes of elections, as it can provide an advantage to those candidates whose names appear at the top of the ballot.

A bicameral legislature is a government body that is composed of two separate chambers or houses. This structure is rooted in the principle of checks and balances, to ensure that bills are thoroughly examined and debated before becoming law. In most bicameral systems, the two chambers have different...

First introduced in 1997, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) was a piece of legislation passed in 2002 to reform campaign finance in the United States. The BCRA is also known as the McCain-Feingold Act. It amended the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 by introducing new regulations on the...

Bipartisanship is a term used to describe a situation in which two parties, often two political parties in a legislature, are able to work together collaboratively to come to a mutual agreement or resolution. Bipartisanship encourages compromise and the formation of consensus. It often results in le...

A blanket primary is a type of primary election in which all candidates for a particular office, regardless of their party affiliation, appear on the same ballot. Voters in a blanket primary can choose candidates from different political parties for the selected office rather than being restricted t...

A board of elections is a government body responsible for administering and overseeing the electoral process within a specific geographic area. This includes tasks such as registering voters, maintaining accurate voter rolls, preparing and distributing ballots, and counting votes. The board of elect...

A Board of Supervisors is an elected institution or body of representatives that oversees management at the local or county level. In the United States, these boards typically consist of five members elected by districts within their county. However, not all states have boards of supervisors for the...

A bond election is a type of public vote or ballot measure that allows citizens to decide on whether a government entity, like a city or school district, can issue bonds to fund projects. Bonds are essentially loans that the government will repay over time, often with interest. A bond election is co...

A borough is a type of administrative division found in several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and others. In the United States, the term "borough" is mainly used in New York City. New York City is divided into five areas called boroughs: Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the...

The Brown Act is a California state law that requires meetings of local government bodies to be open and accessible to the public. Passed in 1953, the act ensures that people have the right to attend, observe, and participate in meetings where decisions affecting their communities are made.

Bureaucracy is a system of government in which many important decisions are made or carried out by state officials rather than by elected representatives. This administrative framework is characterized by a hierarchical structure, fixed rules, and a clear division of labor. 

A butterfly ballot is a type of ballot where the names of candidates, initiatives, or referendums are printed on two facing pages, resembling the wings of a butterfly. This type of ballot can be challenging for voters to understand, especially when there is a long list of candidates. It can be diffi...