Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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VOTE, ECCLESIASTICAL

In order to be valid, a vote cast in an ecclesiastical election, e.g., for a major superior in a religious institute, must be truly free and secret. It is not truly free if an elector is either directly or indirectly led to cast his or her vote through grave fear or deceit for a certain person or for several persons.