swing vote
The pivotal choice
A swing vote is a vote that could go either way and thus has the power to determine an outcome.
The term applies both to individual voters who haven't committed to a candidate or position and to the votes themselves.
In legislative or judicial contexts, a swing vote often belongs to a moderate member whose decision will tip the balance: Justice Kennedy was frequently the swing vote on the divided court.
Swing voters are heavily courted during elections because their choices can decide close races.
Free from external control
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
- centristOne favoring middle positions
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
- persuadableAble to be convinced
fence-sitter · wavering · ambivalent · middle ground · nonaligned · unaffiliated · open-minded
Contest deciding drawn competitors
- decisiveQuick to conclude
- crucialOf supreme importance
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- linchpinVital securing element
game-changer · tipping point · turning point · make-or-break · key factor · catalyst · determinant · critical mass
Voting document
- electorateEligible voting body
- pollsOpinion surveys or voting sites
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
candidate · constituency · democracy · turnout · midterm · primary · battleground · purple state
Advocating to decision-makers
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- outreachProactive community assistance
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
endorsement · appeal · courting · targeting · messaging · advertising · debate · platform
independent
Free from external control
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
- centristOne favoring middle positions
- uncommittedNot bound to anything
persuadable · fence-sitter · wavering · ambivalent · middle ground · nonaligned · unaffiliated · open-minded
tiebreaker
Contest deciding drawn competitors
linchpin · game-changer · tipping point · turning point · make-or-break · key factor · catalyst · determinant · critical mass · razor-thin
ballot
Voting document
- electorateEligible voting body
- pollsOpinion surveys or voting sites
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
campaign · candidate · constituency · democracy · turnout · midterm · primary · battleground · purple state · margin
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- outreachProactive community assistance
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
campaign · endorsement · appeal · courting · targeting · messaging · advertising · debate · platform · promise
- campaign jargonstump speech, talking points, sound bites, soundbite, soundbites
- democracyelection, elections, ballot, ballots, candidate
- votingballot, ballots, polls, candidates, aye
- votesballot, yea, nay, aye, tally
- Congresssenator, representative, senators, House, bill
- UK electionsballot, general elections, general election, by-election, candidate
swing voteparty-line vote
Voting aligned with faction
partisan vote · party faithful · true believer · single-issue voter · ideologue
swing, vote, swinging, voting, voter, votes, swung, voted, voters