protest votes
Ballots expressing disapproval
Protest votes are ballots cast not to support a candidate but to express dissatisfaction with the available choices or the political system itself.
Voters may choose a third-party candidate, write in a name, or spoil their ballot deliberately.
She cast a protest vote for the Green Party knowing they wouldn't win.
The term sometimes carries dismissive connotations, implying the vote was wasted or merely symbolic.
- pollsOpinion surveys or voting sites
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- ballotsVoting forms
- protestorsPeople publicly opposing something
- referendaDirect votes on measures
tactical · choices · disapproval · send a message · symbolic · recall elections · discontents · oppositions · dissatisfaction · abstention · write-in · third party · anti-establishment · contestation · blank ballots · electoral reform · spoiled ballots · lesser evil
- electionsballot, ballots, candidates, polls, election day
- political apathypolitical apathy, nonvoting, low turnout, abstention, disengagement
protest, votes, vote, voter, voters, voting, voted, protester, protesters