Common Mistakes : Vote

Vote – Verb

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BAD: Next year a new president will be voted

GOOD: Next year a new president will be elected

BAD: On the day of the vote, they couldn’t be bothered to go and vote

GOOD: On the day of the election, they couldn’t be bothered to go and vote

Vote = show which person or which course of action you prefer, especially by marking a piece of paper or raising your hand: ‘Who will you be voting for at the next election?’ ‘Fifty-three per cent of Danes voted in favour of the Maastricht treaty

Elect = choose a leader or representative by voting: ‘Roman Catholic cardinals are meeting at the Vatican to elect a new Pope.’ ‘Williams was elected with a clear majority

Election = an occasion when people vote: ‘Who’s going to win the next election

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BAD: People are not allowed to vote more than one candidate

GOOD: People are not allowed to vote for more than one candidate

Vote for sb : ‘I’m not prepared to vote for someone who keeps changing his mind

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BAD: Every night they voted what they would do the next day

GOOD: Every night they voted on what they would do the next day

Vote on a particular question or issue: ‘The Council voted on a motion to close the hospital