| A | B |
|---|
| Absentee Voting | A way people can vote when they can't get to their polling place. |
| Ballot Box | A receptacle for voters' ballots. |
| Bias | A leaning in favor of or against something or someone; partiality or prejudice |
| Campaign | Competition by rival political candidates and organizations for public office |
| Candidate | A person running for office in an election |
| Caucus | Meetings of party members within a legislative body to select leaders and determine strategy |
| Citizen | A native member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government. |
| Constituency | All of the voters in a particular district. |
| Constituent | A person having the right to vote or elect |
| Debate | Face-to-face discussion of candidates' views on issues |
| Delegate | An individual who is appointed to represent others |
| Democracy | A government by the people, through free and frequent elections |
| Election Day | The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November |
| Electoral College | A body of electors chosen by the voters in each state to elect the President and Vice President of the U.S |
| Exit Poll | A poll taken of a small percentage of voters as they leave the polls |
| Federal | A union of states under a central government |
| Franchise | The constitutional right to vote |
| G.O.P. | The Republican party, formerly known as the Grand Old Party. |
| Grassroots | The involvement of common citizens in an issue or campaign |
| Hype | Slang for political ads |
| Incumbent | A person currently in office |
| Independent | A voter or candidate who does not belong to a political party |
| Issue | A point, matter, or dispute, the decision of which is of special or public importance. |
| Landslide | An election in which a particular victorious candidate or party receives an overwhelming mass or majority of votes. |
| Media | The means of communication, such as radio, television, newspapers, and magazines, |
| Mudslinging | Negative, often personal, frequently inaccurate, or exaggerated attacks of the opposition. |
| National Conventions | A meeting held every four years by each of the major political parties to nominate a presidential candidate. |
| Nominee | The person chosen by a political party to serve as its representative in a general election. |
| Non-partisan | An idea or person that does not support a specific party, cause, or candidate. |
| Partisan | A supporter of a person, group, party, or cause. |
| Party | A group of persons with common political opinions and purposes |
| Platform | A public statement of the principles, objectives, and policy of a political party |
| Political Action Committee (PAC) | An organization of 50 or more people that is created to raise money for favored political candidates |
| Poll | A sampling or collection of opinions on a subject. Also, the place where people vote. |
| Pollster | A person whose occupation is the taking of public-opinion polls |
| Precinct | Also called election district |
| Primary | A meeting of the voters of a political party in an election district for nominating candidates for office |
| Rhetoric | The ability to use language well, through the practice of exaggeration, to influence others. |
| Spin | The presentation of information that is biased to favor the candidates |
