absentee ballot

noun

: a ballot submitted (as by mail) in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls

Examples of absentee ballot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Daniels said there was not enough time to educate residents before absentee ballots are mailed ahead of the November 2026 election. — Noah Daly august 13, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2026

According to the clerk's office, the discrepancy was caused by an issue involving the rollers on two high-speed absentee ballot scanners. — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Also complicating matters is that some voters already have cast absentee ballots for Democrats who have bowed out of the race but remain on the ballot. — Gaby Vinick, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

There's very little proof that in any election there has been enough absentee ballot fraud to sway a result. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for absentee ballot

• alate
• fallot
• mallet
• palate
• palette
• pallet
• shallot

Legal Definition

absentee ballot

noun

absentee bal·​lot

: a ballot submitted (as by mail) in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls