‘拉票’ literally combines ‘拉’ (lā), meaning ‘to pull’ or ‘to draw in’, and ‘票’ (piào), meaning ‘vote’ or ‘ballot’. Together, it means the act of actively soliciting or campaigning for votes—similar to ‘canvassing’ or ‘vote-getting’ in English. It is commonly used in political, organizational, or competitive contexts, such as elections, student council campaigns, or even informal popularity contests like ‘best employee’ awards.

The term carries a neutral-to-slightly-informal register and often implies direct, personal outreach—such as giving speeches, handing out flyers, or asking friends and colleagues for support. While not inherently negative, ‘拉票’ can sometimes suggest strategic or even manipulative efforts if overdone or insincere. It’s frequently paired with verbs like ‘积极’ (actively), ‘到处’ (everywhere), or ‘为…’ (on behalf of…), and often appears in news reports, campaign slogans, and everyday conversation about elections or voting events.