1.
blank ballot; abstention vote
A ballot cast with nothing written on it, used to record turnout without choosing any candidate or option.
白票を投じた。
I cast a blank ballot.
白票も投票率に含まれる。
Blank ballots are also counted in the voter turnout.
支持できる候補がいなかったので、抗議の意味で白票を投じた。
There was no candidate I could support, so I cast a blank ballot as a form of protest.
2.
white ballot; vote in favor (in the Diet)
In Japan's Diet, a white voting slip indicating approval of a motion, as opposed to a blue slip for opposition.
議員は白票を投じて賛成した。
The lawmaker cast a white ballot to vote in favor.
採決では白票が過半数を占めた。
In the vote, white ballots made up the majority.
参議院の採決では、賛成を表す白票と反対を表す青票が使われる。
In House of Councillors votes, white ballots indicating approval and blue ballots indicating opposition are used.
Compound of 白 (white) + 票 (ballot, vote). The word has two distinct uses depending on context.
USAGE:
- In ordinary elections, a 白票 is a blank ballot — a deliberate abstention that still counts toward turnout.
- In the Diet's standing-vote procedure, a white slip means approval and a blue slip (青票) means opposition.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 白票を投じる: to cast a blank (or white) ballot
- 白票が過半数を占める: white ballots form a majority
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 青票: blue ballot — the opposing vote in Diet procedure
- 棄権: abstention — declining to vote at all, not casting a blank ballot