A group of voters guaranteed to vote in a particular way; (British Politics) a group of MPs (especially those in receipt of ministerial or other government salaries) guaranteed to vote in support of the government.
Origin
1940s.
Definition of payroll vote in US English:
payroll vote
noun
A group of voters guaranteed to vote in a particular way; (British Politics) a group of MPs (especially those in receipt of ministerial or other government salaries) guaranteed to vote in support of the government.