PowerPoint Presentation
English for Elections
Vocabulary
Phrase & Sentences
Activities
Dialogues
1
2Vocabulary Words you might hearThings you might see
THINGS YOU MIGHT SEE AROUND ELECTION TIMEballot paper(s)
leaflet(s) / pamphlet(s)
party political broadcast
politician(s)poll card(s)
poster(s)
postal vote(s)
vote(s)
voting booth(s)
Main Political Parties in the UK - from left to right. Their
Colours and Logos
Labour - Red - RoseLiberal Democrats - Gold - BirdConservatives
- Blue - TreeMain Political Parties in the US - from left to right.
Their Colors and LogosRedRepublican PartyBlueDemocratic Party
Yelloworgold, with blue orpurpleLibertarian Party
Words you might see or hear during an electionblock voteA way of
voting in which your vote represents other members of your
organization, especially at trade union meetings.by-electionA
special election, held between regular elections, when an area
votes. A by-election can be 'called' if an existing M.P. dies or
retires.campaign (n)In an election a campaign is apolitical
campaignis an organized effort which seeks to win the vote of the
electorate. Often called a 'political campaign' or an 'election
campaign'.campaign (v)The things a candidate does to be elected.
(KIssing babies, shaking hands, giving speeches to the WI
etc.)candidate (n)The person who is running in an
election.coalition (n)If there's no outright winner in an election
a government can be formed in which several parties cooperate.
constituent (n)A citizen who is represented in a government by
officials for whom he or she votes.constituency (n)Each of the
electoral areas or divisions in the UK which elect one or more
members to parliament.debate (n)A formal discussion of the merits
of something.debate (v)To argue for and against something.deposit
(n)The sum of money that a candidate must pay in return for the
right to stand in British parliamentary elections.dissolution
(n)The termination of the current parliament, which has to take
place before a general election.dissolved (v)Once the dissolution
of parliament has been announced, we say it has been dissolved.
elect (v)The act of voting to select the winner of a political
office.election (n)The formal decision-making process by which a
population chooses an individual to hold public office.electorate
(n)The people who are eligible to vote in an election.general
electionAn election held for a nation's primary legislative
body.gerrymanderTo redraw electoral district boundaries for
political advantage.governmentThe political body with the power to
make and/or enforce laws for a country,House of CommonsThe lower
house of the British parliament.
House of LordsThe upper house of the British
parliament.independentA candidate who is not controlled by a
political party.leaderThe person who runs a political party.
(Margaret Thatcher was the leader of the Conservatives).local
electionCounty, unitary authority, borough, district, city, town or
parish elections.MPAbbreviation of Member of Parliament.Member of
ParliamentThe person who represents their constituency in the House
of Commons.oppositionThe major political party opposed to the party
in office and prepared to replace it if elected.partyAn
organization formed to gain political power.
policyA deliberate act of government that in some way alters or
influences the society or economy outside the
government.politicalRelated to politics.politicianA person active
in politics.politicsThe process by which governments make
decisions.PMAbbreviation of Prime Minister.prime ministerThe person
who holds the position of head of the government.proxy voteThe
delegation of someone to vote on someone else's behalf.
rhetoricThe art of using language as a means to persuade someone
to your way of thinking.runTo campaign to stand for a political
position.spinTo present the facts in such a way as to sway public
opinion.spin doctora spokesperson employed to give a favorable
interpretation of events to the media, especially on behalf of a
political party.vetoA vote that blocks a decision.
Phrases & Sentences Sentences
Phrases
Phrases swing states
battleground statesfront-runnerneck and neckthe home stretchon
the campaign traila US state where the two major political parties
have similar levels of support among voters, viewed as important in
determining the overall result of a presidential election.another
term forswing state.the leading candidate.both candidates have
equal support.when the race is near the end.The candidates are
traveling around the country.
stump speechon the stumpgrassroots campaign rank and
filemudslingingsmear campaignlandslide victoryhave favorite
subjects that they talk about to different crowds.to make these
speeches to different groups.voters at the local community level.
members who form the major part of a group,.try to destroy their
opponent's good name by saying bad things .Spreading lies about
someone .One candidate wins a huge majority of electoral votes.
I'd like to register to vote.I'm on the electoral registry.I
haven't had my poll card, yet.Where is the polling station?Have you
voted, yet?Are you going to vote?Which party are you voting for?Who
are you going to vote forSentences
The leader of the party was forced to resign in the aftermath of
the election loss.
The downturn in the economy has provided the Opposition with
lots of ammunition for the coming election.
According to a political analyst, Premier Campbell will probably
lose the election, and in fact, may even lose his own seat.
The governor has announced that he does not intend to seek
re-election at the end of his mandate.
I had anticipated that the Liberal Party would win the
election.
In November of 1872, Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 for
attempting to vote in an American presidential election.
The Opposition were caught unaware by the government's sudden
election call.
Some voters believe that their ballots were destroyed before the
election results were counted.
There was some confusion about who someone was voting for on the
ballot, so the form has been changed for the next election.
There were some problems with the ballots in a town in Florida
during the American presidential election of 2000, and apparently
some people may have accidentally voted for the wrong person. Only
first 10 results shown.
The presidential election in the United States is November
fourth. So we hear a lot of people using expressions about the
election.
Dialogues 4. Change Is Good1. Yes, We Can2. Don't Vote for Him3.
He Got Reelected12. They're Lying5. A Powerful Position6. A
Traveling Man7. Vote for Ralph8. Why Vote?9. Every Vote Counts10.
George Tells Jokes11. Give Them More13. Discussing the
Elections
1. Yes, We CanA: Who did you vote for?B: I voted for Obama.A: Me
too.B: He will be a great president.A: Everyone likes him.B: He's a
good speaker.A: And he's really smart.B: He will solve our
problems.A: He will end the war.B: The next four years will be good
years.A: I'll vote for him next time, too.B: I think everyone
will.
2. Don't Vote for HimA: The election is next week.B: Who are you
voting for?A: I'm not voting for the mayor.B: Why not?A: He made
promises that he didn't keep.B: Like what?A: He promised to hire
1,000 more police officers.B: How many did he hire?A: One
hundred!B: Maybe he had a good reason.A: Maybe he's just a liar.B:
Maybe I'll vote for someone else, too.
3. He Got ReelectedA: I can't believe he won the election.B:
Only 15 percent of the voters turned out.A: That is a joke.B:
Voting is so important, but people don't bother.A: Many people
think their vote doesn't matter.B: The mayor won by only 2,000
votes.A: We're stuck with him for four more years.B: Voting is so
easy. You can even mail your ballot in.A: All you have to do is
vote and put a stamp on it.B: How easy is that?A: I guess people
just don't care.B: They'll care when they see their taxes go
up.
4. Change Is GoodA: Well, we have a new president.B: But we have
the same old problems.A: Well, he's made a few changes.B: Like
what?A: I think he closed the bowling alley in the White House.B:
Oh, yeah. He's changing it to a basketball court.A: Who's paying
for that?B: I think we are!A: Well, that's okay, as long as it
helps him relax and think more clearly.B: Yes, we need a relaxed
president who thinks clearly.A: Do any other world leaders have a
basketball court?B: They will. You know America always leads the
way.
5. A Powerful PositionA: People say that everybody loves
Obama.B: Well, more than 50 million people voted for McCain.A:
That's 50 million people who don't love Obama.B: Obama's got four
years to make everyone happy.A: He's never going to make everyone
happy.B: Can you imagine being President?A: Everyone wants you to
solve their problems.B: I have enough stress from trying to solve
my own problems.A: You and everybody else.B: I would never want to
be President.A: But think about all the power you'd have.B: I
prefer my quiet little life to all the power in the world.
6. A Traveling ManA: Did you read this article?B: What
article?A: It says the mayor spends only 11 percent of his time on
city duties.B: Only 11 percent?A: About 50 percent of the time he's
traveling.B: Where does he travel to?A: Oh, all over the world.B:
But he's supposed to be making our city a better place.A: He's
visiting other cities to get ideas.B: Can't he just go online?A:
The rest of the time he's raising money for his reelection.B: Well,
he'll never get reelected once this news gets out.
7. Vote for RalphA: Who did you vote for president?B: I voted
for Ralph Nader.A: Who in the world is Ralph Nader?B: He's the best
man for president.A: Why's that?B: He hates corporations.A: Well,
most corporations do think only about money.B: He hates Democrats
and Republicans.A: Well, they do put their party before their
country.B: He's the only candidate that I trust.A: But he didn't
have a chance. Nobody voted for him!B: Sooner or later, voters will
wake up.
8. Why Vote?A: I don't know why I bother to vote.B: Why's
that?A: What good does it do?B: You get to put someone in power
that you like.A: Only if my candidate wins.B: Well, he can't win
unless you and others vote for him.A: But even if my candidate
wins, he'll break his promises.B: That's true. They promise
anything just so they get elected.A: And when elected, they go
their own way.B: They forget who put them in power.A: They forget
where they came from.B: Maybe you should run for office.
9. Every Vote CountsA: That election for U.S. Senator stunk.B:
What do you mean?A: There were more votes than voters!B: But that's
impossible.A: Officials said that it's possible.B: Did they explain
how it's possible?A: No. They said there are some things you can't
explain.B: So are they going to hold another election?A: No. That
will cost too much money.B: So it's better to save money than to
have an honest election?A: Well, the Democratic Party says it was
an honest election.B: Of course they say thattheir man won!
10. George Tells JokesA: I see that former President Bush is at
a conference.B: Yes. He's telling jokes about his eight years as
president.A: Yes, those eight years were a lot of fun for
everyone.B: Only 4,000 American soldiers were killed overseas.A:
Not to mention 40,000 wounded soldiers.B: But Bush visited some of
them in the hospital once.A: That's nice that he found the time to
make a visit.B: He spoke to them and made them feel better.A: Did
he speak to every family that lost a soldier?B: No, he didn't have
time to do that.A: Well, he's got plenty of time now!B: No, he's
too busy writing a book about how hard it was to be president.
11. Give Them MoreA: Did you get your Official Sample Ballot?B:
Yes, with the Voter Instructions.A: How are you going to vote?B:
Same as ever, by mail. All it costs me is a 42-cent stamp.A: I
meant, are you going to vote for or against the new taxes?B:
Against all of them, of course.A: But we need new taxes to pay for
highways, schools, and prisons.B: We've already voted for new taxes
to pay for all that stuff!A: That's true. Where did that money
go?B: Our legislators spent it on first-class travel all over the
world.A: They are having a good time with our money.B: So when are
we going to stop giving them more?
12. They're LyingA: Have you decided how you are going to
vote?B: Do you mean on Measures 1, 2, and 3?A: Yes. The ones that
will improve our schools, roads, and hospitals.B: You mean the
measures that will raise our taxes.A: But the TV ads say that our
taxes will not increase.B: Do you believe the TV ads?A: I like the
one where the fireman tells us why we should vote Yes.B: Don't
believe him! Whatever the TV ads tell you, the opposite is true.A:
But the title of Measure 1 is "Better Schools at No Cost."B: The
title should be "Better Schools at Huge Cost."A: I can't believe
that they would lie to us.B: Of course they liethat's what
politicians do!
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are Discussing the ElectionsMrs Smith:Are you
coming to vote? The polling station will be closing in an hour.Mr
Smith :It's raining!Mrs Smith:So what?Mr Smith:I can't be bothered.
It doesn't matter who I vote for, we always end up worse off.
They're all as bad as each other.Mrs Smith:Well don't complain to
me if you don't like the policies of whoever wins.Mr Smith:I don't
think anyone will win. They're predicting a hung parliament.Mrs
Smith:Well if no one bothers to vote, I guess they'll be right.
I'll be back in ten.
Activities
Exercise 1Exercise 2Exercise 3Exercise 4
Exercise 5
Exercise 11. John never votes for Republican ________. a.
candidates b. runners
2. Who won the ________ in your state? a. choice b. election
3. Who did you vote ________? a. for b. on
4. The election ________ are in. = We now know the election
________. a. responses b. results
5. George Bush won all the states in the South. = George Bush
________ the South. a. swept b. collectedChoose the best answer to
fill the space.A
B
A
B
A
Answers
6. A ________ is when one candidate wins an election by a large
percentage.a. sweepb. landslide
7. Q: How many ________ can a US president serve? A: A US
president is allowed to serve two ________. a. turns b. terms
8. If something "hangs in the balance", it is ________. a.
decidedb. undecided
9. The Democrats won a large number of ________ in the Senate.
a. seats b. chairs
10. It is important that all the ________ are counted. a. vote
b. votesB
B
B
A
B Answers
Exercise 2Choose the best answer to fill the space.1. The piece
of paper that you vote on is called a ________. a. sheet b.
ballot
2. Q: What do you do with a ballot? A: You ________ it. a. cast
b. throw
3. The place where voters cast their ballots is called a
________ station. a. police b. polling
4. In a polling station, the little "rooms" where you walk in to
vote are called voting ________. a. shacks b. booths
5. Before you can vote, you must ________ to vote. a. register
b. resign
B
A
B
B
A Answers
6. Many states now use ________ voting. a. touch the screen b.
touch-screen
7. I can't vote in this election. I missed the registration
________ ( = the last day you're allowed to register). a. deadline
b. limit
8. Which ________ party do you normally vote for? a. political
b. politics
9. If you are not physically able to come and vote at a polling
station, you can vote by what is called an " ________ ballot". a.
absent b. absentee
10. When you register to vote, you often don't have to do this
in person; you can do it by mail, or ________ (online). a.
electrically b. electronicallyB
A
A
B
B Answers
Exercise 3Choose the best answer to fill the space.
1. A close race = A ___________ race a. tight b. close-knit
2. Many senators support his ___________ ( = attempt) to become
president. a. bead b. bid
3. Her campaign is gaining ________. = Her campaign is becoming
more and more effective/successful. a. quicknessb. momentum
4. The probable nominee = The ________ nominee a. likely b.
likeable
5. That victory established him as the clear front-________. a.
runner b. placeA
B
B
A
A Answers
6. Voter ________ was very high. = A lot of people voted. a.
appearance b. turnout
7. The senator said that he would ________ ( = support) the
other candidate. a. back b. back-out
8. The presidential election will be ________ on November 1st.
a. located b. held
9. The other candidate for mayor claimed that he was ________ to
improving recycling in the city. a. bound b. committed
10. She was able to ________ a lot of money for her campaign. a.
raise b. riseB
A
B
B
A Answers
Exercise 4Choose the best answer to fill the space.
The_______________for the next_______________came with lots
of___________
to get people back to work.a. candidate a. electiona. voter
engagementb. elector b. promiseb. campaign promisesc. voter c.
campaignc. opinion pollAnswers a. candidatea. electionb campaign
promises
The latest_____________ shows the challenger trailing his
principal opponent,but it
is unreliable because there are too many______________.a.
polling boothb. opinion pollc. right to votea. candidatesb.
undecided votersc. underage voters
Answers b. opinion pollb. undecided voters
On________________many people turned out to vote.After taking
a____________
,they went into a____________________ _________________their
votes.a. ballot dayb. vote countingc. polling daya. to phoneb. to
castc. to tella. ballot boothb. ballot machinec. ballot paper a.
referendumb. polling stationc. polling booth
Answers c. polling day c. ballot paper c. polling boothb. to
cast
Peter is upset ! At the________________ he was told that
the_____________ was
eighteen, which is the reason why he wasn't issued
a_______________.a. constituencyb. polling stationc. second
ballota. cast ageb. ballot agec. voting agea. candidate cardb.
ballot cardc. voter card
Answers b. polling stationc. voting age c. voter card
By folding your_______________ in halfwhen putting it in
the_____________,you
are casting a_________________.a. voter carda. counting boxb.
ballot paperb. voter boxc. allot stationc. ballot boxa. public
ballotb. discrete ballotc. secret ballot
Answers b. ballot paper c. ballot box b. discrete ballot
Answers
During the________________, certified observers will watch it to
make sure there
are no irregularities.a. vote countingb. tactical votingc.
voting age
a. vote counting
Exercise 5The following two(2) exercises are vocabulary
matching. In the space provided type in the letter of the correct
meaning. Then click on To see the correct answers. Be careful they
are a little difficult.Answers Good luck!!!!!
Word List1)Constituents 2)Hypocrisy 3)Appointment 4)Tactics
5)Ethics 6)Gerrymander7)Boondoggle 8)Unity 9)Primary
10)Nominate11)Lobby 12)Coattails
Definition ListA)system or set of moral principles; rules of
conduct xxxxB)an office or position assigned officially; engagement
xxC)voters in a district represented by an elected official
xD)false profession of desirable or publicly approved qualities;
pretense of having virtues xE)oneness; a whole or totality; absence
of diversity xxF)to try to influence the actions or votes of public
officials in legislative or administrative decision xG)to appoint
or propose for a duty or office xH)work of little or no value done
merely to look busy xI)the dividing of a state into election
districts to give one political party a majorityJ)preliminary
election; first in rank or importance xxK)maneuvers for gaining
advantage or success xxxL)gained by association with another
(expression: riding the ______ of...) xx
1. C 2. D 3. B 4. k 5. A 6. I 7. H 8. E 9. J 10. G 11. F 12. L
Answers
Word List1)Seniority 2)Issues 3)Caucus 4)Incumbent
5)Judicial6)Campaign7)Electoral8)Delegates 9)Pollster 10)Feud
11)Quorum12)Petition
1. L 2. G 3. B 4. F 5. H 6. A 7. D 8. C 9. J 10. E 11. K 12.
IDefinition ListA)systematic course of aggressive activities for a
specific purposeB)a meeting of the members of a political
partyC)persons designated to represent others at a political
conventionD)pertaining to persons who select or choose by
voteE)bitter quarrel or contention; argumentF)currently holding an
indicated officeG)the points, matters or disputes in
questionH)pertaining to judgment in courts of justiceI)a formally
drawn request (noun); to make an entreaty or request (verb)J)person
whose occupation is the taking of public samplings or
opinionsK)number of members of a group required to be present to
transact business (majority)L)precedence or status obtained due to
length of service
Answers
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Joel D. Aldrich
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