"Canvass" is a word in LAW AND LEGAL, ENGLISH

The act of examining and counting the returns of votes cast at a pub-lic election. Bowler v. Elsenhood, 1 S. Dak. 577, 48 N. W. 136, 12 L. R. A. 705; Clark v. Tracy, 95 lowa, 410, 64 N. W. 290; Hudson v. Solomon, 19 Kan. 180; People v. Sausalito, 106 Cal. 500, 39 Pac. 937; In re Stew-art, 24 App, Dlv. 201, 48 N, Y. Supp. 957

To examine by discussion; to debate.

To search thoroughly; to engage in solicitation by
traversing a district; as, to canvass for subscriptions or for votes;
to canvass for a book, a publisher, or in behalf of a charity; --
commonly followed by for.

Close inspection; careful review for verification; as, a
canvass of votes.

To go trough, with personal solicitation or public
addresses; as, to canvass a district for votes; to canvass a city for
subscriptions.

To sift; to strain; to examine thoroughly; to scrutinize;
as, to canvass the votes cast at an election; to canvass a district
with reference to its probable vote.

Search; exploration; solicitation; systematic effort to
obtain votes, subscribers, etc.

Examination in the way of discussion or debate.