![Election terms: barnstorm](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-barnstorm.jpg)
Barnstorm
A: Tour an area for a campaign
B: Dominate the rural vote
C: Speak at length on tangential topics
![Justin Trudeau campaigning in Brampton](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-barnstorm-answer.jpg)
Answer: A—Tour an area for a campaign
As in, “The party leader barnstormed the province’s northern towns.”
![Election terms: Manifesto](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-manifesto.jpg)
Manifesto
A: Handshake photo op
B: Public declaration of aims
C: Figurehead
![Polling station in England, United Kingdom](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-manifesto-answer.jpg)
Answer: B—Public declaration of aims
As in, “Lord Buckethead, a satirical candidate in Britain, published a manifesto proposing to nationalize the singer Adele.”
![Election terms: muckraker](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-muckraker.jpg)
Muckraker
A: Politician who purposely sows division
B: Official opposition
C: Someone who seeks and publicizes scandals
![Donald Trump Jr., Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-muckraker-answer.jpg)
Answer: C—Someone who seeks and publicizes scandals
As in, “A muckraker discovered the leading candidate’s marriage was in trouble.”
![Election terms: grassroots](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-grassroots.jpg)
Grassroots
A: Of ordinary people
B: Fundamentalist
C: Prioritizing the environment
![Black Lives Matter protest](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-grassroots-answer.jpg)
Answer: A—Of ordinary people
As in, “Black Lives Matter is a grassroots movement with no formal hierarchy.”
Here’s what defunding the police could look like—and the arguments in favour of this plan.
![Election terms: first past the post](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-first-past-the-post.jpg)
First past the post
A: System in which the candidate with the most votes wins
B: Survey taken as voters leave the polling station
C: Opening debate question
![Prime Minister Justin Trudeau](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-first-past-the-post-answer.jpg)
Answer: A—System in which the candidate with the most votes wins
As in, “If there are more than two options, first past the post can result in leadership supported by a minority of voters.”
![Election terms: incumbent](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-incumbent.jpg)
Incumbent
A: Income distribution within a riding or district
B: Person holding an office
C: Debate moderator
![House of Commons in Ottawa, Ontario](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-incumbent-answer.jpg)
Answer: B—Person holding an office
As in, “The Canadian House of Commons has a transition program to help defeated incumbents find other jobs.”
Learn what a “vote of no confidence” means in Canadian politics.
![Election terms: Psephology](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-psephology.jpg)
Psephology—study of
A: Voting-machine design
B: Elections
C: Persuasion
![Vote sign in Canada](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-psephology-answer.jpg)
Answer: B—Study of elections
As in, “After founding a psephology website, Éric Grenier was hired by the CBC.”
Don’t miss this quiz of royal terms!
![Election terms: caucus](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-caucus.jpg)
Caucus
A: Rowdy discussion
B: A party’s elected members
C: Coalition government
![NDP Party leader Jagmeet Singh taking a selfie with a fan](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-caucus-answer.jpg)
Answer: B—A party’s elected members
As in, “The MP voiced her concerns at a caucus meeting behind closed doors.”
![Election terms: turnout](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-turnout.jpg)
Turnout
A: Exposé
B: Politician who switches party allegiance
C: Percentage of registered voters who cast ballots
![Campaign in Quebec](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-turnout-answer.jpg)
Answer: C—Amount of registered voters who cast ballots
As in, “Turnout at Quebec’s 1995 referendum was 93.5 per cent.”
![Election terms: Dark horse](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-dark-horse.jpg)
Dark horse
A: Little-known candidate achieving surprising success
B: Controversial legislation
C: Black limousine
![Stephane Dion delivering a speech](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-dark-horse-answer.jpg)
Answer: A—Little-known candidate achieving surprising success
As in, “Stéphane Dion was a dark horse for the Liberal leadership.”
![Election terms: Canvass](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-canvass.jpg)
Canvass
A: Suppress votes
B: Compare political platforms
C: Solicit votes
![Prime Minister Justin Trudeau](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-canvass-answer.jpg)
Answer: C—Solicit votes
As in, “The campaign office organized teams to canvass each street.”
![Election terms: proportional representation](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-proportional-representation.jpg)
Proportional representation
A: Designating seats for members of minority groups
B: System where parties gain seats in proportion to their votes
C: Giving shorter speaking times to smaller parties
![British Columbia parliament](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-proportional-representation-answer.jpg)
Answer: B—System where parties gain seats in proportion to their votes
As in, “British Columbia has rejected proportional representation three times.”
Don’t miss our roundup of the most Canadian headlines of all time.
![Election terms: Suffrage](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-suffrage.jpg)
Suffrage
A: Persecution
B: Tax hike
C: Right to vote
![Voting ballot](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-suffrage-answer.jpg)
Answer: C—Right to vote
As in, “Although the Inuit gained federal suffrage in 1950, few ballot boxes were placed in Inuit communities before 1962.”
From “Snafu” in the Yukon to Newfoundland’s “Happy Adventure,” these funny Canadian town names often have fascinating origins.
![Election terms: Acclamation](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-acclamation.jpg)
Acclamation
A: Victory because there is only one candidate
B: Voting by calling out “Aye” or “Nay”
C: Voter apathy
![Saskatchewan flag](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-acclamation-answer.jpg)
Answer: A—Victory because there is only one candidate
As in, “In 2012, six of Saskatchewan’s mayors won by acclamation.”
Check out the strangest fact about every Canadian province.
![Election terms: Sortition](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-sortition.jpg)
Sortition
A: Selecting public officials by lottery
B: Making a voting decision
C: Spoiling a ballot
![Ruins in Athens, Greece](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/election-terms-sortition-answer.jpg)
Answer: A—Selecting politicians by lottery
As in, “Practiced in Ancient Athens, sortition has present-day supporters.”
Next, test your knowledge of these Canadian slang terms.