Skip to main content
to get out the vote

to get out the vote

17 4.1
To encourage people to vote in an election
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : movilizar al electorado
  • We really need to make sure we get out the vote and continue to work hard.
  • get-out-the-vote efforts
  • get-out-the-vote campaigns
  • get-out-the-vote drive

Examples

  • You are raising and spending money and then getting out the vote for Election Day next.

    Blog text (4)
  • So, are we going to get out the vote this November or not?

    Blog text (4)
  • One final word-- get out the vote tomorrow.

  • Also, they do not take into account campaign "get out the vote" efforts on election day.

    Blog text (10)
  • Women must do their part, organize, get out the vote, and vote on November 6.

    Blog text (20)
  • If you'd like to volunteer to help get out the vote in favor of Proposal 2, click HERE.

    Blog text (8)
  • The Romney campaign uses an experimental mobile app to get out the vote.

    Blog text (8)
  • Democrats and Republicans push to get out the vote in the final hours before Tuesday's election.

    Blog text (14)
  • In Rockdale, Democrats are working the phones and finalizing plans to get out the vote.

    Blog text (20)
  • Many organizations are working hard to get out the vote for the upcoming election.

Synonyms

to canvass
vsto get out the vote
52 6.3

To visit people or contact them to win support

aims to encourage or organize people to take part in an election
to electioneer
vsto get out the vote
1 7.4

To work actively to help a candidate or party win an election

focuses on encouraging people to take part in an election rather than promoting candidates

Antonyms

257 3.5

To try to stop something by making people less willing to do it

176 4.8

To stop public protest by force or by people in power

How Active

to get out the vote
17 4.1
to urge
591 3.2
to vote
1.0

Surface Forms

get out the vote infinitive
got out the vote past participle
getting out the vote present participle
gets out the vote third person singular

Morphology

get + out + the + vote

The constituents 'get' (to induce) and 'vote' (the ballot) provide partial semantic clues, but the particle 'out' does not retain a straightforward spatial meaning and here helps form a political phrasal verb meaning 'mobilize' or 'encourage to vote.' The expression is institutional and somewhat idiomatic, so learners may only partially infer the meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrase get out the vote comes from the image of campaign workers helping people get out of their homes and go to vote so they can cast their vote. So, it means 'to encourage or organize people to vote'.