Poll 选举投票、计票、民意测验、民意调查

Definition: (often the polls) The process of voting in an election: 1. The number of votes cast in an election; 2. The places where votes are cast in an election. 3. Short for opinion poll [Oxford Dictionary]

Example:

Blackie Gavin, who topped the polls at the last elections, reached the quota after the third count, needing just one vote after the second. （获得最高选票）

With four weeks to go before the vote, he has shot to the top of the opinion polls. （民意测验中他的支持率高居榜首）

Vote 表决

Definition: A formal indication of a choice between two or more candidates or courses of action, expressed typically through a ballot or a show of hands. [Oxford Dictionary]

通用词，含义最广，包括表决的各种形式，如投票表决、举手表决、鼓掌表决等，因表决常用投票进行，故vote有时也就被人译为“投票”，但其精确含义应为“表决”。

Example:

The House held four plenary sessions debating the issue before it put it to a vote on Monday.

Ballot 不记名投票表决、单个选票的那张纸

Definition: A system of voting secretly and in writing on a particular issue. [Oxford Dictionary]

属于投票表决中的一种形式，即“不记名投票表决”，也指单个选票的那张纸。

Example:

Representatives were elected by ballot.（不记名选票）

He won 54 per cent of the ballot.（总选票数）