ballot
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ballot
An official paper document on which the parties or candidates to be chosen in an election are listed, and on which the voter casts their vote by marking a choice. A synonym is 'Stimmzettel' (ballot paper).
Der Wähler faltete seinen Wahlzettel und warf ihn in die Wahlurne.
The voter folded his ballot and dropped it into the ballot box.
The word is a clear compound made from 'die Wahl' (the election / choice) and 'der Zettel' (the slip of paper / note). So it literally means 'a slip of paper for the election.'
Jeder wahlberechtigte Bürger erhält einen Wahlzettel.
Every eligible citizen receives a ballot.
In the context of elections, 'Wahlzettel' (ballot) is often combined with certain verbs: you can 'ausfüllen' (fill it out), 'ankreuzen' (mark it with a cross), 'falten' (fold it), and 'einwerfen' (drop it) into the ballot box.
Bitte füllen Sie den Wahlzettel in der Wahlkabine aus.
Please fill out the ballot in the voting booth.
A 'Wahlzettel' (ballot) can be 'gültig' (valid) or 'ungültig' (invalid). A ballot is invalid if, for example, it was not filled out correctly.
Wenn man zwei Parteien ankreuzt, ist der Wahlzettel ungültig.
If you mark two parties, the ballot is invalid.
ballot paper
'Stimmzettel' and 'Wahlzettel' mean the same thing in normal usage: the official paper on which you cast your vote in an election. Both words fit when parties or candidates are listed and you mark a choice. 'Stimmzettel' is especially precise because it is about casting a vote. 'Wahlzettel' is very easy to understand and is also used often. Confusing them is hardly a problem here, because in an election situation both words are normally correct.
Mein Bruder liest den Wahlzettel genau, bevor er sein Kreuz macht.
My brother reads the ballot carefully before marking his choice.
In der Wahlkabine faltet sie den Stimmzettel sorgfältig zusammen.
In the voting booth, she carefully folds the ballot paper.