abstention
Formal voting refusal
Abstention is the act of refraining from something, especially voting.
In legislative bodies, an abstention is neither a yes nor a no—a way to be present without taking a side: Three senators voted in favor, two against, with one abstention.
The word also applies to refraining from food, drink, or other pleasures: His abstention from alcohol lasted six months.
Freedom from prejudice
- nonpartisanshipAbsence of party affiliation
- disinterestAbsence of bias
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- objectivityFreedom from personal bias
nonalignment · noninvolvement · disengagement · fence-sitting · indifference · equidistance · recusal · uninvolved
Ability to restrain impulses
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- restraintControl over impulses
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
self-discipline · fortitude · perseverance · self-restraint · self-mastery · self-regulation · forbearance · resolve
Voting document
- electionOrganized public voting
- quorumMinimum for valid proceedings
- proxyAuthorized substitute
- referendumDirect vote on legislation
undecided · uncommitted · pass · present · withhold · recusal
Organized economic protest
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- walkoutProtest by leaving
- sit-outDecline to participate
- non-participationChoosing to stay uninvolved
resistance · refusal · solidarity · demonstration · opt-out · withdrawal · non-cooperation · dissent
Unimpaired mental state
- teetotalismTotal sobriety as principle
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- continenceControl over bodily functions
chastity · puritanism · prohibition · dry · recovery · pledge · wagon · clean
impartiality
Freedom from prejudice
- nonpartisanshipAbsence of party affiliation
- disinterestAbsence of bias
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
objectivity · nonalignment · noninvolvement · disengagement · fence-sitting · indifference · equidistance · recusal · uninvolved · hands-off
self-control
Ability to restrain impulses
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- restraintControl over impulses
- moderationAvoidance of excess
self-denial · self-discipline · fortitude · perseverance · self-restraint · self-mastery · self-regulation · forbearance · resolve · determination
ballot
Voting document
referendum · undecided · uncommitted · pass · present · withhold · recusal
boycott
Organized economic protest
non-participation · resistance · refusal · solidarity · demonstration · opt-out · withdrawal · non-cooperation · dissent · embargo
sobriety
Unimpaired mental state
- teetotalismTotal sobriety as principle
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
continence · chastity · puritanism · prohibition · dry · recovery · pledge · wagon · clean · sober-curious
Lent
Christian fasting season
dietary · cleanse · detox · vow · sacrifice · penance · observance · ritual · vigil
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- votingballot, vote, voters, ballots, voter
- boardroomconference table, board members, chairman, chairperson, directors
- inactioninaction, passivity, doing nothing, stillness, immobility
- political actionsvote, bill, sanction, pardon, amnesty
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation
abstentionindulgence
Yielding to desire
excess · overindulgence · debauchery · intemperance · self-indulgence
abstentionparticipation
Act of taking part
engagement · involvement · active participation · taking part · action