Election Terminology Glossary

The Election Assistance Commission’s Glossary of Election Terminology contains nearly 1,300 terms and phrases used in the administration of elections in the United States. The purpose of the glossary is to provide election officials with a comprehensive resource of common words and phrases used in the administration of elections. The establishment of uniform election terminology is beneficial for ensuring consistency when communicating with the public about elections and voting. However, because election procedures and terminology vary by jurisdiction, it is best to always refer to state and local election officials when a term differs from the definitions in this glossary.