| SPLITTICKET | Politically diverse ballot ... and an apt description of each set of puzzle circles |
| UNTIED | Politically diverse assembly in no-win situation, liable to fall apart (6) |
| HENRY | Surname of the Swiss designer credited with the design of Peugeot, Ballot, and Sunbeam early twin-cam racing engines (5) |
| EXED | Marked, as a ballot, and as the territories in this puzzle's theme |
| RANGEROVER | High-end SUV, and an apt description of each set of circled letters? |
| BROKENBAT | Cause of wood splinters in the infield ... and what each set of puzzle circles represents |
| POPUPADS | Webirritants ... and what appears in each set of puzzle circles? |
| NAMECHANGE | Postnuptial alteration, and a hint to each set of puzzle circles |
| MADDASH | Frantic rush, and what's literally found in each set of puzzle circles |
| SPICEMIX | Curry powder, e.g . ... and what each set of puzzle circles contains |
| WRITERSBLOCK | Impediment to creativity ... and each set of puzzle circles |
| SURPRISETEST | Unexpected classroom announcement ... and, initially, one hiding in each set of puzzle circles |
| BADSANTA | 2003 Billy Bob Thornton title role ... and a hint to each set of puzzle circles |
| CUTIN | Interrupt ... and a hint to each set of puzzle circles |
| WILDRICE | Whole-grain food, and a description of each set of circles |
| BROKEBACKMOUNTAIN | Film starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal ... and a description of each set of circled letters |
| ATTENTIONGETTER | Verbal nudge found in each set of puzzle circles |
| SPARECHANGE | Pocket coins, or what can literally be seen in each set of puzzle circles |
| ISLANDRETREATS | Vacation spots found in each set of puzzle circles |
| INNERCORE | Earth's most central geologic layer ... or what can be found in each set of puzzle circles |
