popular vote

USAGE SUMMARY

"popular vote" is a commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to the total number of votes cast in an election or particular decision, as opposed to votes from a specific group or electoral system. Example: In the recent election, the candidate won the popular vote by a landslide, but lost the electoral college vote.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

But in the popular vote?

The New York Times

Winning the popular vote.

The New York Times

Take the popular vote.

The Washington Post

Their coalition actually won the popular vote.

The Economist

I was elected by popular vote.

The New York Times - Magazine

The popular vote is one thing, however.

The New York Times - Magazine

There is the popular vote.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

WHAT is the National Popular Vote legislation?

The New York Times

HENDRIK HERTZBERG: National Popular Vote for President.

The New Yorker

National Popular Vote will do that.

The New Yorker

Enter the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing elections, clarify whether you're referring to the "popular vote" or the electoral college outcome, as they can differ.

Common error

Avoid assuming that the "popular vote" winner automatically becomes the leader; electoral systems may dictate otherwise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "popular vote" functions primarily as a noun, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI's analysis shows it describes the total votes cast by individuals in an election, contrasting with systems like the Electoral College.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "popular vote" is a very common noun phrase referring to the total number of votes cast in an election. Ludwig AI confirms it’s grammatically correct and frequently used in news and media contexts. While its meaning is straightforward, it's crucial to distinguish it from the official results in systems like the U.S. Electoral College. Alternatives like "national vote" or "people's choice" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

national vote

Focuses on the nationwide aspect of the vote, omitting the 'popular' aspect.

total votes cast

Emphasizes the count of all votes, regardless of the system by which they are tallied.

people's choice

Highlights the public's preference, often used in non-political contexts.

electoral outcome by citizens

A more descriptive and formal way of saying the same thing, suitable for specific contexts.

public ballot results

Focuses on the results derived directly from the ballot of the general population.

direct democracy outcome

Suggests a system where every citizen votes on every issue.

citizenry's decision

Highlights the decision-making power of the citizens.

general election tally

Refers to the count in a general election, emphasizing the official nature.

voter preference

Focuses on what voters prefer, more abstract than a direct count.

nationwide referendum result

Implies a specific question put to the entire nation, rather than an election of representatives.

FAQs

What does "popular vote" mean?

The "popular vote" refers to the total number of individual votes cast for a candidate in an election, as opposed to the votes allocated through an electoral college or other representative system.

Why does the "popular vote" sometimes differ from the electoral result?

In systems like the United States, the electoral college determines the winner, not the raw number of votes. This can lead to situations where a candidate wins the "popular vote" but loses the election.

What are some alternatives to saying "popular vote"?

You can use alternatives like "national vote", "total votes cast", or "people's choice" depending on the context.

Is it always important to win the "popular vote"?

While winning the "popular vote" demonstrates broad public support, the importance varies depending on the electoral system. In some systems, it's merely symbolic, while in others, it directly determines the winner.