ballot box

• Conteneur physique utilisé pour recueillir les votes lors d'une élection, ou, au sens figuré, le processus démocratique de vote lui-même.

A physical container used to collect votes in an election, or figuratively, the democratic voting process itself.

1. Physical container for votesB1formal

   A sealed box into which voters place their completed ballots during an election.

   urne électorale

   • The ballot box was sealed and transported to the counting center.
   • Each polling station has a secure ballot box.
   • Voters dropped their papers into the ballot box one by one.

2. The electoral processB2formal

   Used metaphorically to refer to the democratic voting system or the act of voting itself.

   Les urnes

   • The people expressed their will through the ballot box.
   • The ballot box is the foundation of a democratic society.
   • They decided to take their grievances to the ballot box.