a document listing the alternatives that is used in voting
"The election official handed every voter a ballot listing all the candidates running for mayor."
Originally, a small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote.
"After casting her vote on the ballot box using a folded piece of paper as her ballot, she waited anxiously for the results."
In plain English: A ballot is an official piece of paper used to record your vote during an election.
"I dropped my ballot in the box before going to lunch."
Usage: A ballot is the physical object, such as a marked paper or electronic record, that represents your choice in an election rather than the act of voting itself. Use it to refer specifically to the instrument used for casting votes, distinguishing it from general terms like "vote" which describe the action.
To vote or decide by ballot.
"The election was conducted secretly, so voters decided which candidate to choose by casting their ballots in a private booth."
In plain English: To ballot is to vote by secret written ballots instead of raising your hand.
"I cannot vote early because I never had time to ballot in my precinct before election day."
The word "ballot" entered English via Italian or Middle French to describe a small ball used for registering votes. It originally referred to these physical voting tokens rather than the modern paper slip, deriving ultimately from Germanic roots meaning "ball."