What does nonvoter mean?
A nonvoter is a person who does not cast a vote in an election or other public vote. The word is especially common in political discussion, where it can describe either someone who has the right to vote but abstains or, more broadly, someone who does not regularly participate in elections. In the United States, campaigners and pollsters use the term to identify eligible citizens who are registered but habitually stay away from the polls. Such people may be unengaged, dissatisfied with the candidates, constrained by practical barriers, or simply reluctant to vote. The term can also cover people who are not eligible to vote, depending on the context. It is therefore more precise than simply calling someone 'apathetic' and should not automatically be understood as a judgment about a person's political commitment.
nounA person who does not cast a vote in an election or other public vote. The term may refer to someone who is eligible to vote but abstains, or more broadly to someone who does not regularly participate in elections.
- A person who does not cast a vote in a particular election or public vote.
- A person who does not regularly participate in elections, especially one who is registered to vote but habitually abstains.
"The campaign focused on reaching nonvoters before election day."
"The survey sought to determine why many nonvoters had stayed away from the previous election."
"As a nonvoter, she followed the campaign closely but did not participate in the referendum."
The plural is formed by adding -s to nonvoter.
"Researchers interviewed nonvoters across several districts."
A nonvoter is not necessarily ineligible to vote: in democratic campaigns, the term often highlights citizens who have the right to participate but remain outside the electorate.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nonvoter come from?
The word was formed in English by combining the prefix non- with the noun vote. Vote entered Middle English through Old French from the Latin votum, meaning 'a wish' and, by extension, 'a formal expression of opinion.' Related English words include devote, probate, and votive, all reflecting the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How nonvoter is actually used
The term is primarily political and is used more often in public discussion, polling, and campaigning than in everyday conversation. It can include people who are ineligible to vote as well as those who are eligible but choose not to vote, so context matters. It is sometimes contrasted with the broader term 'elector', which refers specifically to a person entitled to vote.