Also 7 ballat, -et, balet, 7–8 balot: see BALLOTING vbl. sb. Pples. balloted, -ing. [a. It. ballott-are ‘to choose, to cast or draw lots with bullets’ (Florio, 1598), f. ballotta: see BALLOT sb.1 Cf. F. ballotter, 16th c.]
† 1. trans. To vote, for approval, selection or rejection, upon (a proposed resolution, candidate, etc.), by depositing small balls in an urn or box, or by some other secret method. Obs.
1549. Thomas, Hist. Italie (1561), 77. This priuilege, to haue his onely oppinion ballotted, no man hath but he [the Doge].
1618. Wotton, in Reliq. (1685), 262. None of the Competitors arriving to a sufficient number of Balls, they fell to ballote some others.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II./439. This Gang had a Balloting-box and balloted how things should be carried.
2. intr. To give a secret vote (for, against).
1580. North, Plutarch (1656), 927. The Judges … would never take their bals to ballot against him.
a. 1797. Burke, Sp. Short. Parl., Wks. X. 89. The Electors shall ballot; the Members of Parliament also shall decide by ballot.
c. 1810. Rose, in Byron’s Wks. (1846), 230/2. Balloting now for merit, now for hunger.
b. To ballot for: to select (a body of officials, etc.), elect or reject (an individual candidate), by secret voting. Often with indirect passive; cf. 4.
1695. Luttrell, Brief Rel., III. 464. The two houses ballotted for a committee … to take sir Thomas Cooks examination.
1773. Johnson, in Boswell, 30 April. I was this evening to be ballotted for as candidate for admission into that society.
1869. Daily News, 17 Dec., 5/6. Twelve candidates for the fellowship were proposed and ordered to be balloted for at the next monthly meeting.
3. trans. To select by the drawing of lots (e.g., conscripts for military service).
1785. Cowper, Task, IV. 623. The clown … Is balloted, and trembles at the news.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. I. i. 15. Peasants … who will not be balloted for Soldiers.
4. To ballot for: to select by lot, draw lots for.
1786. Act 26 Geo. III., cvii. § 24, marg. To appoint what Number of Men shall serve … who are to be ballotted for.
1884. Manch. Exam., 21 March, 5/4. Mr. Slagg intends to ballot for another day for his resolution.
