‘选票’ (xuǎn piào) literally combines ‘选’ (to select, to choose) and ‘票’ (ticket, slip, or note), meaning a physical or digital slip used in voting to express one’s choice—most commonly in elections, polls, or decision-making processes. It represents the formal instrument through which an individual casts their vote, whether for a candidate, policy, or option.

This word appears frequently in civic, organizational, and educational contexts—for example, during class elections, community meetings, or national voting events. While ‘票’ alone can mean ‘ticket’ (e.g., train ticket), adding ‘选’ specifies its function exclusively for voting. ‘选票’ is always a countable noun and typically appears with measure words like ‘张’ (zhāng), as in ‘一张选票’. It carries a neutral, formal register and is not used metaphorically or in casual slang.