Standing, Running, Voting: The Language of Elections

A record 2 billion people around the world are voting in major elections in 2024, according to the Center for American Progress, a US policy institute.

In other words, more people than ever are "going to the polls."

We wouldn't usually use that expression when speaking, but you'll hear it often on the news. It means people are going to "cast their vote" — make their choice.

The place where people cast their vote is often called a "polling station." And the private place inside the polling station where you cast your vote is called a "polling booth" or a "voting booth."

You'll probably get a "ballot paper" or "voting slip" with a list of the people you can vote for.

The media sometimes describes voting as "casting a ballot." And you put that paper in the "ballot box" so it can be counted — although these days it might go into a counting machine called a "ballot tabulator."

The people you can vote for are the "candidates." They've been "running" in the election, or "running for office."

It might also be said they're "standing for election," which means the same thing, but sounds less tiring!

These people have spent weeks or months "campaigning," or "on the campaign trail" — trying to encourage the public to vote for them.

The voting public is called "the electorate," which refers to anyone who's eligible to vote.

When all the votes have been cast, any "spoiled" ballot papers will be put to one side. These are papers that have not been completed correctly.

Now, the counting begins.

But not all polling stations will finish counting at the same time. As more stations report their results, different news agencies will try to "call" the election and say which candidate they think has won.

Sometimes they're wrong — and the public might not be sure of the winner until every vote is counted and an official announcement is made!

//New words//

US policy institute
Meaning: A research organization that analyzes and proposes policies in the United States.
Example: The Brookings Institution is a well-known US policy institute.

Going to the polls
Meaning: The act of going to vote in an election.
Example: Millions of Americans are going to the polls today to elect their new president.

Cast their vote
Meaning: To submit one's vote in an election.
Example: Citizens cast their votes for their preferred candidate.

Polling station
Meaning: A designated place where people go to vote.
Example: The local school gymnasium serves as a polling station during elections.

Polling booth / Voting booth
Meaning: A private enclosure where voters mark their ballots.
Example: She entered the voting booth to make her choices in privacy.

Ballot paper / Voting slip
Meaning: The official paper on which voters mark their choices.
Example: He carefully filled out his ballot paper before submitting it.

Casting a ballot
Meaning: The act of submitting a vote.
Example: She cast her ballot early in the morning before going to work.

Ballot box
Meaning: A sealed container where completed ballots are deposited.
Example: After marking their choices, voters place their ballots in the ballot box.

Ballot tabulator
Meaning: A machine that counts votes from ballots.
Example: The ballot tabulator quickly processes hundreds of votes per minute.

Candidates
Meaning: People who are running for political office.
Example: Three candidates are competing for the position of mayor.

Running for office / Standing for election
Meaning: To be a candidate in an election for a political position.
Example: She announced that she would run for office in the upcoming election.

Campaigning
Meaning: Activities to promote a candidate or political party before an election.
Example: The politician spent months campaigning across the country.

On the campaign trail
Meaning: Traveling and making appearances to gain support during an election campaign.
Example: The presidential candidate was on the campaign trail, visiting key swing states.

The electorate
Meaning: All the people who are eligible to vote in an election.
Example: The electorate is divided on the issue of healthcare reform.

Eligible to vote
Meaning: Qualified to participate in voting.
Example: All citizens over 18 are eligible to vote in the national election.

* "Eligible products" are products you can apply for or participate in by meeting certain conditions or requirements, such as products that qualify for a discount or promotion.
"Applicable products" are products governed by specific rules, regulations, or laws.

Spoiled
Meaning: A ballot that is invalid due to improper marking or damage.
Example: Several ballots were declared spoiled because they were mismarked.

"Call" the election
Meaning: To declare the projected winner of an election based on available results.
Example: The news network decided to call the election for the incumbent candidate.

//Discussion//

1.
Were you familiar with any of these expressions before reading the article?

->I knew about "candidates" and "campaigning", but not the others.

2.
When was the last election in your country? Was the result surprising?

->
In 2021, the LDP held a presidential election, and the current Prime Minister, Kishida, was elected. In addition to him, one young male candidate and two female candidates were present.
The result was not very surprising. Because although I thought he was not the best, there was no other suitable person.

https://www.nhk.or.jp/politics/articles/statement/68850.html

3.
Do you always vote in referendums and elections?

->
Yes, I do. Even if I don't like any candidate, I will at least vote for a better one.

4.
What do you find most annoying about election season?

-> Cars pass through town making speeches, so if you're working from home, it can be pretty noisy.
These actions usually involve chanting or saying party names, and they don't mean anything.

5.
Is voter turnout typically high for elections in your country?

->
The turnout rate for the first House of Representatives election 1946 was 72%, but it was 55% in 2021.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem very high when viewed in world rankings.

Turkey has the highest turnout rate, at 88%, followed by Sweden at 82% and Australia at 80%.
Japan's figure of 55% is the seventh lowest out of the 36 countries in the graph. It was only 0.21 points behind the United States, with the lowest turnout rate among the G7 countries.
As you can see, Japan's turnout rate is low internationally.

https://www.soumu.go.jp/senkyo/senkyo_s/news/sonota/ritu/index.html

https://www.es-inc.jp/graphs/2021/grh_id011180.html

//Further Discussion//

6.
Who do you think will win your country's next election?

->
The incumbent, Yuriko Koike, will win the Tokyo gubernatorial (Governor of Tokyo)election.
She's not the best, but there aren't many other suitable candidates.

However, if the Internet has more power than TV, Shinji Ishimaru may become the new governor of Tokyo.

Tokyo gubernatorial election: Shinji Ishimaru, mayor of Aki-Takata, announces intention to run
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20240517/k10014452681000.html

Why does Shinji Ishimaru stir up the romanticism of Tokyo residents? The true nature of the Ishimaru phenomenon, challenging the "old Tokyo gubernatorial election" between Koike and Renho with "#Let'sMoveTokyo"

https://www.mag2.com/p/news/601974

From a bank employee to a mayor in his 30s! A thorough look at Aki-Takata Mayor Ishimaru, who is in the spotlight for running in the Tokyo gubernatorial election
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRrSVSbfWtg&t=1299s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypaDNEO2v2U

7.
Do you have the same political views as most friends and family?

->
I don't talk about politics or religion with my family or friends, so I don't know.
My husband is the only person I talked to about it, but he said he doesn't want to discuss it this time.

8.
Are there any current or past politicians that you admire?

->
Former Prime Minister Suga desperately tried to take measures against the coronavirus and hold the Tokyo Olympics.
He also introduced hometown tax donations to revitalize local areas.

He also lost his close friend, former Prime Minister Abe.
Suga persuaded Abe, and Abe was able to become prime minister again.

Although he didn't have Abe's aggressive diplomacy or spectacular results, he handled government affairs honestly, so I think he's trustworthy.

******

Full text of the condolence speech by former Prime Minister Suga, representative of friends at the "state funeral" of former Prime Minister Abe
https://www.nhk.or.jp/politics/articles/lastweek/89673.html

Prime Minister, your chronic illness once worsened, and you had to step down from your position as Prime Minister. You felt guilty about that and were quite hesitant about running for the LDP presidency a second time.

Finally, we went to a yakitori restaurant in Ginza, and I tried my best to persuade you. I felt that it was my mission.

After three hours, you finally nodded your head. I will always be proud of this as the greatest achievement of Suga Yoshihide's life.

Whenever the Prime Minister was in the Prime Minister's Office, we would talk openly once a day. Even now, when I happen to be alone, those days come back to me vividly.

*****

9.
Would you ever consider going into politics?

->
No, I've never thought about it.

10.
Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don't vote. — George Jean Nathan. What are your thoughts on this quote?

->
I totally agree. We need to vote no matter what.