go to the polls

/ɡˌəʊ tə ðə pˈəʊlz/

/ɡˌoʊ tə ðə pˈoʊlz/

[phrase]

to go to the polls

[PHRASE]

to give a vote in an election

to [go] to the polls definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "go to the polls" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "go to the polls" can be traced back to the practice of conducting elections in democratic societies. The term "polls" refers to the voting stations or locations where people gather to cast their votes. The phrase was derived from the idea that citizens should physically go to these designated poll locations to exercise their right to vote. The use of the word "polls" in this context can be traced back to the 17th century and is derived from the Middle English word "polle," meaning "head" or "counting of heads."

Examples

1. On Nov. 5, 2019, Kentucky voters went to the polls to pick their next governor.

2. You go to the polls, you cast your vote, your voice is heard.

3. By the time France went to the polls for the first round of voting in April he had successfully reinvented himself.

4. On election day citizens go to the polls and the results in this new range are just the same as they were in the old ranges: 34% for Monkey, 33% for Owl and 33% for Lynx.

Nearby words

go to the ends of the earth