Originally, a ball used for secret voting. Hence: Any printed or written ticket used in voting.

The act of secret voting, whether by balls, written or printed ballots or tickets, or by use of a voting machine; the system of voting secretly.

The whole number of votes cast at an election, or in a given territory or electoral district.

the official list of candidates competing in an election.

A document on which the judge records the decision, the reasons for the decision, and speaker points awarded to each debater.

the decision in a debate round. A judge casts a ballot for either the Aff or the Neg and gives her/his reasons for this decision. Often speaker ranks and points are also given on the ballot.

debate function model selection vast

The ballot is the form the judge fills out to assign the win, speaker ranks and speaker points.