A ballot is a piece of paper or electronic form used to cast a vote in secret. When citizens choose their leaders or decide on important issues, they mark their choices on a ballot, then submit it without anyone knowing how they voted. The word can also refer to the entire voting process, as in “The question will be decided by ballot.”

Before secret ballots became common in the late 1800s, voting often happened out loud or by raising hands. This meant powerful people could intimidate voters or punish them for voting the wrong way. The secret ballot changed this by letting people vote privately, protecting them from pressure or threats. Today, we consider secret ballots essential for fair elections.

When something appears on the ballot, it means voters will decide on it. A politician might say, “My name will be on the ballot in November,” meaning that's when voters can choose whether to elect them.