Where do voters usually go to cast their ballots in person?
AnswerA polling station
Polling stations, or polling places, are set up so voters can mark and cast ballots in person.
Society · Facts & stats
Election facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about elections, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
The share of eligible voters who actually vote is called what?
AnswerTurnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot.
Going deeper
In ancient Athens, citizens voted to exile someone by scratching names on what?
AnswerPottery shards
Pottery shards called 'ostraka' gave us the word 'ostracism', the Athenian vote to exile a citizen.
The word 'candidate' comes from the Latin 'candidatus'. What did it mean?
AnswerDressed in white
Romans seeking office wore togas whitened with chalk, so they were called 'candidati', those clothed in white.
In an election, what is an 'incumbent'?
AnswerThe person already holding the office
The incumbent is the officeholder seeking to keep the position against challengers.
Expert level
How many electors make up the US Electoral College?
Answer538
There are 538 electors, one for each House and Senate seat plus 3 for Washington, D.C.; 270 is a majority.
What is a 'by-election', called a 'special election' in the US?
AnswerAn election to fill a seat that became vacant between regular elections
By-elections fill seats left empty by resignation, death or other causes before the next general election.
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