'To contest an election' definitions:

Definition of 'To contest an election'

From: GCIDE

Election \E*lec"tion\, n. [F. ['e]lection, L. electio, fr. eligere to choose out. See Elect, a.]
1. The act of choosing; choice; selection. [1913 Webster]
2. The act of choosing a person to fill an office, or to membership in a society, as by ballot, uplifted hands, or viva voce; as, the election of a president or a mayor. [1913 Webster]
Corruption in elections is the great enemy of freedom. --J. Adams. [1913 Webster]
3. Power of choosing; free will; liberty to choose or act. "By his own election led to ill." --Daniel. [1913 Webster]
4. Discriminating choice; discernment. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
To use men with much difference and election is good. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
5. (Theol.) Divine choice; predestination of individuals as objects of mercy and salvation; -- one of the "five points" of Calvinism. [1913 Webster]
There is a remnant according to the election of grace. --Rom. xi. 5. [1913 Webster]
6. (Law) The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by taking one of which, the chooser is excluded from the other. [1913 Webster]
7. Those who are elected. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
The election hath obtained it. --Rom. xi. 7. [1913 Webster]
To contest an election. See under Contest.
To make one's election, to choose. [1913 Webster]
He has made his election to walk, in the main, in the old paths. --Fitzed. Hall. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Contest \Con*test"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Contested; p. pr. & vb. n. Contesting.] [F. contester, fr. L. contestari to call to witness, contestari litem to introduce a lawsuit by calling witnesses, to bring an action; con- + testari to be a witness, testic witness. See Testify.]
1. To make a subject of dispute, contention, litigation, or emulation; to contend for; to call in question; to controvert; to oppose; to dispute. [1913 Webster]
The people . . . contested not what was done. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequenty repeated, few more contested than this. --J. D. Morell. [1913 Webster]
2. To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend; as, the troops contested every inch of ground. [1913 Webster]
3. (Law) To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist; as a claim, by course of law; to controvert. [1913 Webster]
To contest an election. (Polit.) (a) To strive to be elected. (b) To dispute the declared result of an election.
Syn: To dispute; controvert; debate; litigate; oppose; argue; contend. [1913 Webster]