What term describes the actual number of votes cast in an election?

The term that describes the actual number of votes cast in an election is "Popular Vote." This concept refers to the total number of votes received by a candidate or a proposed measure from the general electorate. Unlike the Electoral Vote, which is used in the context of the Electoral College system in U.S. presidential elections and represents the votes of electors pledged to each candidate, the Popular Vote captures the direct choice made by individual voters.

In contrast to the Popular Vote, terms like "Majority Vote" refer specifically to the requirement that a candidate must receive more than half of the votes to win, which may not encompass the actual number of votes if there are multiple candidates. "Referendum" relates to a direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal, thus not describing the total votes cast in a general sense. Therefore, the Popular Vote is the most accurate designation for the actual number of votes cast in an election.