ballot box

noun

1

: a box for receiving ballots

2

: ballot sense 2a

In a republic, reform had to come about through the ballot box rather than by force.

—Mary Beth Norton et al.

Phrases

stuff the ballot box

chiefly US

: to attempt to control the outcome of an election by having multiple illegitimate votes cast in support of the desired candidate

They said the vote-rigging included stuffing ballot boxes, buying votes and absent names on the voter rolls.

—Sonia Verma

By a margin of just 277 votes (some say ballot boxes were stuffed), Brooklyn, the nation's fourth-largest city, had voted to give up its proud and independent history.

—James Sterngold

Examples of ballot box in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The proposal also came days after Democrats saw massive wins at the ballot box, opening up a fissure for Republicans and encouraging the minority party to dig in. —Al Weaver, The Hill, 7 Nov. 2025

But on Tuesday, Democrats gained notably at the ballot box, reenergizing the party. —Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

Earlier this week, some Democrats expressed their interest in finding a way to resolve the shutdown, but their victories at the ballot box on Tuesday have emboldened many to hold firm. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 6 Nov. 2025

For now, the critics have the upper hand at the ballot box. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ballot box

• aftershocks
• chatterbox
• equinox
• goldilocks
• hollyhocks
• interlocks
• orthodox
• paradox
• tomahawks
• balks
• blocks
• blocs