An iron vote is a Taiwanese political term for a voter that can be reliabily counted on to vote for one party or another. These usually include strong supporters of Taiwan independence or Chinese reunification.
The Kuomintang was severely hurt in 2000 by the loss of iron votes.
... has previously been courting.
As the novel opens, Stiva's friend Levin has returned Moscow from his country estate with the intention of proposing to Kitty. He firs ...