a lost vote

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lost vote" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing elections, decision-making processes, or situations where a vote is not counted or is rendered ineffective. Example: "Due to the technical issues at the polling station, many citizens felt that their participation resulted in a lost vote."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

That could be a lost vote.

The New York Times

To him, MicroStrategy is less a company than a nation of which he is President, and if someone quits he feels it personally, like a lost vote.

The New Yorker

But the legacy of a lost vote is that the bar for doing so has become higher—and the questions about the country's strategic priorities a lot more searching.

The Economist

In particular, I'm proud of our beating up on our ostensible allies, the Democrats, for helping turn what looked like surely a lost vote a few weeks ago, into a victory this past Tuesday night.

Huffington Post

On July 1st Chancellor Gerhard Schröder will engineer a lost vote of confidence, opening the way for an election in September that seems sure to lead to his political demise.

The Economist

"I voted for him and it was a lost vote".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Even as to those, the petition signer has exercised his portion of the legislative power when he signs the petition, much like a legislator who casts a losing vote.

Cornell University

First, lawmakers passed an amendment requiring the prime minister to return within days of a losing vote with plans for proceeding.

The New York Times

A losing vote also would have signaled an erosion of investor confidence, which could have made it hard for the firm to raise more money.

The New York Times

In this alternative scenario, he would have made the bill go away quickly by forcing a losing vote.

Los Angeles Times

Now, instead of trying to avert a losing vote in Congress, the president can pursue a winnable resolution in the United Nations Security Council to implement the Russian proposal to place Syrian chemical weapons under U.N. supervision.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a lost vote", ensure the context clearly indicates why the vote was ineffective, whether due to technical errors, voter suppression, or other factors.

Common error

Avoid using "a lost vote" to simply mean a vote for a losing candidate or party. The phrase implies that the vote itself was not properly counted or had no impact due to external reasons, not just because the candidate lost.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a lost vote" is that of a noun phrase. It acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. Ludwig provides examples where the phrase describes situations where a vote fails to have its intended impact.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a lost vote" refers to a vote that doesn't achieve its intended purpose due to various reasons, not simply because the candidate or proposal it supported didn't win. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and acceptable. It frequently appears in news and media contexts and carries a neutral tone, though its implications are often negative. When using the phrase, it's important to clarify why the vote was “lost,” and be sure to select a more appropriate synonym, such as ""wasted vote"" or "invalid vote", if context suggests it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a wasted vote

Focuses on the futility and lack of impact of the vote.

an invalid vote

Highlights the official rejection or non-acceptance of the vote.

a spoiled ballot

Refers specifically to a ballot rendered void due to improper marking.

a discarded vote

Emphasizes the act of throwing away or not counting the vote.

a non-count vote

Directly indicates that the vote will not be included in the final tally.

a disregarded vote

Suggests the vote was ignored or not taken into consideration.

an ineffective vote

Broadly indicates that the vote did not achieve its intended effect.

a fruitless vote

Conveys the idea that the vote was unproductive or unsuccessful.

a vain vote

Implies the vote was cast in pursuit of a futile outcome.

a futile vote

Suggests the vote was doomed to be ineffective from the start.

FAQs

What does "a lost vote" mean?

The phrase "a lost vote" typically refers to a vote that is not counted or does not have the intended effect due to some error, technicality, or external factor, as opposed to a vote simply cast for a losing candidate.

How to use "a lost vote" in a sentence?

You can use "a lost vote" in a sentence like this: "Due to the malfunctioning voting machines, many citizens feared their ballots would become "wasted vote"".

What can I say instead of "a lost vote"?

You can use alternatives like ""wasted vote"", "invalid vote", or "spoiled ballot" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "a lost vote" and "a losing vote"?

"A lost vote" indicates that the vote was not properly counted or had no impact, while "a losing vote" simply means a vote cast for a candidate or proposal that did not win.