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a slip or sheet of paper, cardboard, or the like, on which a voter marks his or her vote.
the method of secret voting by means of printed or written ballots or by means of voting machines.
voting in general, or a round of voting:
Our candidate was defeated on the third ballot.
the list of candidates to be voted on:
They succeeded in getting her name placed on the ballot.
the right to vote:
to gain the ballot after years of struggle.
the whole number of votes cast or recorded.
a system or the practice of drawing lots:
The assassin would be chosen by ballot.
(formerly) a little ball used in voting.
to vote by ballot:
to ballot against a candidate.
to draw lots:
to ballot for places.
to canvass or solicit (a group, membership, etc.) for votes:
Members were balloted on the resolution.
to select, especially for military service, by ballot:
Certain age groups will not be balloted at this time.
Historical Examples

For ten days the Charleston convention wrangled over the platform and balloted for the nomination of a candidate.
History of the United States Charles A. Beard and Mary R. Beard

The names of the four candidates were then presented to the Council and balloted.
The Quarterly Review, Volume 162, No. 324, April, 1886 Various

Mr. Gladstone was as much chosen by the House of Commons as if the members had sat in their seats and balloted for him.
The Critical Period of American History John Fiske

The first day on which a committee could be balloted for was June 26, 1781.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2) Edward Gibbon

Does this individual cow select and appoint herself to the office; or is she balloted for, or how otherwise is the selection made?
Ranching, Sport and Travel Thomas Carson

We balloted 27 times, and on each ballot the result was the same; eight States for Jefferson, six for Burr, two divided.
The Life of Albert Gallatin Henry Adams

They balloted for who should distribute them, and Lucy was chosen.
In the Whirl of the Rising Bertram Mitford

We balloted at last on each name separately, and the five leaders were condemned to death.
Gold Stewart White

He informed me that I had been balloted for by the committee, and had been unanimously blackballed.
The Betrayal of John Fordham B.L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon

The convention divided between the three candidates, and balloted an entire day without result.
The Life of Isaac Ingalls Stevens, Volume II (of 2) Hazard Stevens

noun
the democratic practice of selecting a representative, a course of action, or deciding some other choice by submitting the options to a vote of all qualified persons
an instance of voting, usually in secret using ballot papers or a voting machine
the paper on which a vote is recorded
a list of candidates standing for office
the number of votes cast in an election
a random selection of successful applicants for something in which the demand exceeds the supply, esp for shares in an oversubscribed new issue
(NZ) the allocation by ballot of farming land among eligible candidates, such as ex-servicemen
(NZ) a low-interest housing loan allocated by building societies by drawing lots among its eligible members
verb -lots, -loting, -loted
to vote or elicit a vote from: we balloted the members on this issue
(transitive) usually foll by for. to select (officials, etc) by lot or ballot or to select (successful applicants) at random
(transitive) often foll by for. to vote or decide (on an issue, etc)
n.

1540s, “small ball used in voting,” also “secret vote taken by ballots,” from Italian pallotte, diminutive of palla “ball,” for small balls used as counters in secret voting (see balloon). Earliest references are to Venice. Ballot box attested from 1670s.
v.

1540s, from ballot (n.). Related: Balloted; balloting.
see: stuff the ballot box