Noun

(en-noun)

(uncountable) The right or chance to vote, express an opinion, or participate in a decision.

(countable) A vote in deciding a particular question.

* '>citation

*

The right to vote for elected officials in a representative democracy.

universal suffrage''''', ''women's '''suffrage''''', ''negro '''suffrage

(US) The right of women to vote.

(countable, Christianity) A prayer, for example a prayer offered for the faithful dead.

* (Shipley)

* (rfdate) Creed of Pope Pius IV

I firmly believe that there is a purgatory, and that the souls therein detained are helped by the suffrages of the faithful.

*

*

(countable, Christianity) A short petition, as those after the creed in matins and evensong.

*

(uncountable) Aid, intercession.

Testimony; attestation; witness; approval.

* Atterbury

Lactantius and St. Austin confirm by their suffrage the observation made by heathen writers.

* South

Every miracle is the suffrage of Heaven to the truth of a doctrine.

Noun

(en noun)

A process of choosing a leader, members of parliament, councillors or other representatives by popular vote.

The parliamentary elections will be held in March.

* {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation

, passage=That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past.}}

The choice of a leader or representative by popular vote.

The election of John Smith was due to his broad appeal.

(archaic) Any conscious choice.

*, II.20:

Whosoever searcheth all the circumstances and embraceth all the consequences thereof hindereth his election .

* Francis Bacon

To use men with much difference and election is good.

(theology) In Calvinism, God's predestination of saints including all of the elect.

(obsolete) Those who are elected.

* Bible, Rom. xi. 7

The election hath obtained it.